Transcriptional regulator nucleic acids, polypeptides and methods of use thereof

ABSTRACT

The invention provides isolated nucleic acids and their encoded proteins that act as cell transcription inhibitors and methods of use thereof. The invention further provides expression cassettes, transformed host cells, transgenic plants and plant parts, and antibody compositions.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Application Serial No. 60/251,555 filed Dec. 6, 2000, which is herein incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present invention relates generally to plant molecular biology. More specifically, it relates to nucleic acids and methods for modulating their expression in plants.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Major advances in plant transformation have occurred over the last few years. However, in major crop plants, such as maize and soybeans, serious genotype limitations still exist. Transformation of agronomically important maize inbred lines continues to be both difficult and time consuming. Traditionally, the only way to elicit a culture response has been by optimizing medium components and/or explant material and source. This has led to success in some genotypes, but most elite hybrids fail to produce a favorable culture response. While, transformation of model genotypes is efficient, the process of introgressing transgenes into production inbreds is laborious, expensive and time consuming. It would save considerable time and money if genes could be introduced into and evaluated directly in production inbreds or commercial hybrids.

[0004] Current methods for genetic engineering in maize require a specific cell type as the recipient of foreign DNA. These cells are found in relatively undifferentiated, rapidly growing callus cells or on the scutellar surface of the immature embryo (which gives rise to callus). Irrespective of the delivery method currently used, DNA is introduced into literally thousands of cells, yet transformants are recovered at frequencies of 10⁻⁵ relative to transiently-expressing cells. Exacerbating this problem, the trauma that accompanies DNA introduction directs recipient cells into cell cycle arrest and accumulating evidence suggests that many of these cells are directed into apoptosis or programmed cell death. (Reference Bowen et al, Third International Congress of the International Society for Plant Molecular Biology, 1991, Abstract 1093). Therefore it would be desirable to provide improved methods capable of increasing transformation efficiency in a number of cell types.

[0005] Typically a selectable marker is used to recover transformed cells. Traditional selection schemes expose all cells to a phytotoxic agent and rely on the introduction of a resistance gene to recover transformants. Unfortunately, the presence of dying cells may reduce the efficiency of stable transformation. It would therefore be useful to provide a positive selection system for recovering transformants.

[0006] In spite of increases in yield and harvested area worldwide, it is predicted that over the next ten years, meeting the demand for corn will require an additional 20% increase over current production (Dowswell, C. R., Paliwal, R. L., Cantrell, R. P., 1996, Maize in the Third World, Westview Press, Boulder, Colo.).

[0007] In hybrid crops, including grains, oil seeds, forages, fruits and vegetables, there are problems associated with the development and production of hybrid seeds. The process of cross-pollination of plants is laborious and expensive. In the cross-pollination process, the female plant must be prevented from being fertilized by its own pollen. Many methods have been developed over the years, such as detasseling in the case of corn, developing and maintaining male sterile lines, and developing plants that are incompatible with their own pollen, to name a few. Since hybrids do not breed true, the process must be repeated for the production of every hybrid seed lot.

[0008] To further complicate the process, inbred lines are crossed. For example in the case of corn, the inbreds can be low yielding. This provides a major challenge in the production of hybrid seed corn. In fact, certain hybrids cannot be commercialized at all due to the performance of the inbred lines. The production of hybrid seeds is consequently expensive, time consuming and provides known and unknown risks. It would therefore be valuable to develop new methods that contribute to the increase of production efficiency of hybrid seed.

[0009] As new traits are added to commercial crops by means of genetic engineering, problems arise in “stacking” traits. In order to develop heritable stacked traits, the traits must be linked because of segregating populations. Improved methods for developing hybrid seed that would not require linking of the traits would significantly shorten the time for developing commercial hybrid seeds.

[0010] Gene silencing is another problem in developing heritable traits with genetic engineering. Frequently gene silencing is seen following meiotic divisions. Elimination or reduction of this problem would advance the state of science and industry in this area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Definitions

[0012] The term “isolated” refers to material, such as a nucleic acid or a protein, which is: (1) substantially or essentially free from components which normally accompany or interact with the material as found in its naturally occurring environment or (2) if the material is in its natural environment, the material has been altered by deliberate human intervention to a composition and/or placed at a locus in the cell other than the locus native to the material.

[0013] As used herein, “nucleic acid” means a polynucleotide and includes single or double-stranded polymer of deoxyribonucleotide or ribonucleotide bases. Nucleic acids may also include fragments and modified nucleotides.

[0014] As used herein, “CHD polynucleotide” means a nucleic acid sequence encoding a CHD polypeptide.

[0015] As used herein, “polypeptide” means proteins, protein fragments, modified proteins, amino acid sequences and synthetic amino acid sequences. The polypeptide can be glycosylated or not.

[0016] As used herein, “CHD polypeptide” means a polypeptide containing 3 domains, a chromatin organization modifier, a helicase SNF-2 related/ATP domain, and a DNA binding domain.

[0017] As used herein, “plant” includes plants and plant parts including but not limited to plant cells, plant tissue such as leaves, stems, roots, flowers, and seeds.

[0018] As used herein, “promoter” includes reference to a region of DNA upstream from the start of transcription and involved in recognition and binding of RNA polymerase and other proteins to initiate transcription.

[0019] By “fragment” is intended a portion of the nucleotide sequence or a portion of the amino acid sequence and hence protein encoded thereby. Fragments of a nucleotide sequence may encode protein fragments that retain the biological activity of the native nucleic acid. Alternatively, fragments of a nucleotide sequence that are useful as hybridization probes may not encode fragment proteins retaining biological activity. Thus, fragments of a nucleotide sequence are generally greater than 25, 50, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, or 700 nucleotides and up to and including the entire nucleotide sequence encoding the proteins of the invention. Generally the probes are less than 1000 nucleotides and preferably less than 500 nucleotides. Fragments of the invention include antisense sequences used to decrease expression of the inventive polynucleotides. Such antisense fragments may vary in length ranging from greater than 25, 50, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, or 700 nucleotides and up to and including the entire coding sequence.

[0020] By “functional equivalent” as applied to a polynucleotide or a protein is intended a polynucleotide or a protein of sufficient length to modulate the level of CHD protein activity in a plant cell. A polynucleotide functional equivalent can be in sense or antisense orientation.

[0021] By “variants” is intended substantially similar sequences. Generally, nucleic acid sequence variants of the invention will have at least 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 90%, 95% or 98% sequence identity to the native nucleotide sequence, wherein the % sequence identity is based on the entire inventive sequence and is determined by GAP 10 analysis using default parameters. Generally, polypeptide sequence variants of the invention will have at least about 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95% or 98% sequence identity to the native protein, wherein the % sequence identity is based on the entire sequence and is determined by GAP 10 analysis using default parameters. GAP uses the algorithm of Needleman and Wunsch (J. Mol. Biol. 48:443-453, 1970) to find the alignment of two complete sequences that maximizes the number of matches and minimizes the number of gaps.

[0022] As used herein a “responsive cell” refers to a cell that exhibits a positive response to the introduction of CHD polypeptide or CHD polynucleotide compared to a cell that has not been introduced with CHD polypeptide or CHD polynucleotide. The response can be to enhance tissue culture response, induce somatic embryogenesis, induce apomixis, increase transformation efficiency or increase recovery of regenerated plants.

[0023] As used herein a “recalcitrant plant cell” is a plant cell that exhibits unsatisfactory tissue culture response, transformation efficiency or recovery of regenerated plants compared to model systems. In maize such a model system is GS3. Elite maize inbreds are typically recalcitrant. In soybeans such model systems are Peking or Jack.

[0024] As used herein “Transformation” includes stable transformation and transient transformation unless indicated otherwise.

[0025] As used herein “Stable Transformation” refers to the transfer of a nucleic acid fragment into a genome of a host organism (this includes both nuclear and organelle genomes) resulting in genetically stable inheritance. In addition to traditional methods, stable transformation includes the alteration of gene expression by any means including chimerplasty or transposon insertion.

[0026] As used herein “Transient Transformation” refers to the transfer of a nucleic acid fragment or protein into the nucleus (or DNA-containing organelle) of a host organism resulting in gene expression without integration and stable inheritance.

[0027] As used herein, a “CHD-silencing” construct as an expression cassette whose transcribed mRNA or translated protein will diminish the functional expression of active CHD in the cell. Such silencing can be achieved through expression of an antisense construct targeted against the CHD structural gene, a vector in which the CHD structural gene or a portion of this sequence is used to make a silencing hairpin (or where silencing hairpin is conjoined to the CHD sequence in some fashion), or where a CHD-overexpression cassette is used to co-suppress endogenous CHD levels. Reducing activity of endogenous CHD protein can also be achieved through expression of a transgene encoding an antibody (including single chain antibodies) directed against a critical functional domain within the CHD molecule (for example, an antibody that was raised against the chromo-domain of CHD).

Nucleic Acids

[0028] Expression of CHD genes and their localization within the cell modulate their chromatin-organizing function. Several CHD1-binding sites have been found in the nuclear matrix attachment region from mouse chromosomes, suggesting that this protein binds to chromosomes, at least during certain stages of the cell cycle. When cells enter mitosis, CHD1 has been shown in mouse cells to be released into the cytoplasm.

[0029] In an effort to elucidate the effect of gibberellic acid on Arabidopsis root development, a group of scientists in UC Berkely (Sung's lab) and Carnegie Institute of Washington (Sommerville's lab) discovered an Arabidopsis mutant called pickle (pkl). The primary root meristem of the pkl plant has embryonic characteristics. Root tissues from pickle plants can regenerate new embryos and plants without hormone induction (Ogas et al., Science 277: 91-94, 1997). This observation suggested that the pkl gene serves as a key repressor for plant embryogenesis. The gene was mapped to a position near 48.4 on chromosome 2. The sequence of AtPickle was then published (Ogas et al., PNAS 96: 13839-13844, 1999) and was found to be a CHD3 homologue. Interestingly, the Arabidopsis gymnos (gym) mutant was recently found to be allelic to pkl. GYM (PKL) acts as a suppressor to repress genes that promote meristematic activities (Eshed et al., Cell 99: 199-209, 1999).

[0030] Since the identification of the first CHD gene (MmCHD1, Delmas et al., PNAS 90:2414-2418, 1993), a total of 13 highly conserved genes have so far been isolated. AtPKL and AtPKL-related genes are the only CHD genes isolated from plants.

[0031] CHD genes are required for appropriate inhibition of the transcription of important genes during development. Most likely, they are also required to be nonfunctional during embryogenesis and/or cell division. For those cells in which the key repressors are still on, overexpression of downstream, stimulatory genes may not be able to overcome the repression and consequently, no enhancement of transformation would be observed. Thus, manipulation of key repressor genes such that the repressor activity is transiently inhibited (antisense, cosuppression, antibody, etc.) may be an approach to establish an environment of embryogenesis and/or organogenesis. Working alone or together with LEC1, RepA or CycD, this approach may improve transformation.

[0032] In addition, modulating specific aspects of developmental pathways such as embryogenesis can be used to create high oil crops. Moreover, the family of CHD genes can be used to specifically shut down gene expression by engineering of specific DNA binding domains.

[0033] In many cases of apomixis maternal tissues such as the nucellus or inner integument “bud off” producing somatic embryos. These embryos then develop normally into seed. Since meiosis and fertilization are circumvented, the plants developing from such seed are genetically identical to the maternal plant. Suppression of expression of the CHD gene in the nucellus integument, or in the megaspore mother cell is expected to trigger embryo formation from maternal tissues.

[0034] Producing a seed identical to the parent has many advantages. For example high yielding hybrids could be used in seed production to multiply identical copies of high yielding hybrid seed. This would greatly reduce seed cost as well as increase the number of genotypes that are commercially available. Genes can be evaluated directly in commercial hybrids since the progeny would not segregate. This would save years of back crossing.

[0035] Apomixis would also provide a method of containment of transgenes when coupled with male sterility. The construction of male sterile autonomous agamospermy would prevent genetically engineered traits from hybridizing with weedy relatives.

[0036] Gene stacking would be relatively easy with apomixis. Hybrids could be successively re-transformed with various new traits and propagated via apomixis. The traits would not need to be linked since apomixis avoids the problems associated with segregation.

[0037] Apomixis can provide a reduction in gene silencing. Gene silencing is frequently seen following meiotic divisions. Since meiotic divisions never occur, it may be possible to eliminate or reduce the frequency of gene silencing. Apomixis can also be used to stabilize desirable phenotypes with complex traits such as hybrid vigor. Such traits could easily be maintained and multiplied indefinitely via apomixis.

[0038] Suppression of the CHD gene in transformed cells appears to initiate embryo development and stimulate development of pre-existing embryos. Reduced expression of the CHD gene should stimulate growth of transformed cells, but also insure that transformed somatic embryos develop in a normal, viable fashion (increasing the capacity of transformed somatic embryos to germinate vigorously).

[0039] Suppression of the CHD gene will stimulate growth in cells with the potential to initiate or maintain embryogenic growth. Cells in established meristems or meristem-derive cell lineages may be less prone to undergo the transition to embryos.

[0040] The isolated nucleic acids of the present invention can be made using (a) standard recombinant methods, (b) synthetic techniques, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the polynucleotides of the present invention will be cloned, amplified, or otherwise constructed from a monocot or dicot. Typical examples of monocots are corn, sorghum, barley, wheat, millet, rice, or turf grass. Typical dicots include soybeans, sunflower, canola, alfalfa, potato, or cassava.

[0041] Functional fragments included in the invention can be obtained using primers that selectively hybridize under stringent conditions. Primers are generally at least 12 bases in length and can be as high as 200 bases, but will generally be from 15 to 75, preferably from 15 to 50 bases. Functional fragments can be identified using a variety of techniques such as restriction analysis, Southern analysis, primer extension analysis, and DNA sequence analysis.

[0042] The present invention includes a plurality of polynucleotides that encode for the identical amino acid sequence. The degeneracy of the genetic code allows for such “silent variations” which can be used, for example, to selectively hybridize and detect allelic variants of polynucleotides of the present invention. Additionally, the present invention includes isolated nucleic acids comprising allelic variants. The term “allele” as used herein refers to a related nucleic acid of the same gene.

[0043] Variants of nucleic acids included in the invention can be obtained, for example, by oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis, linker-scanning mutagenesis, mutagenesis using the polymerase chain reaction, and the like. See, for example, Ausubel, pages 8.0.3-8.5.9. Also, see generally, McPherson (ed.), DIRECTED MUTAGENESIS: A Practical Approach, (IRL Press, 1991). Thus, the present invention also encompasses DNA molecules comprising nucleotide sequences that have substantial sequence similarity with the inventive sequences.

[0044] Variants included in the invention may contain individual substitutions, deletions or additions to the nucleic acid or polypeptide sequences which alters, adds or deletes a single amino acid or a small percentage of amino acids in the encoded sequence is a “conservatively modified variant” where the alteration results in the substitution of an amino acid with a chemically similar amino acid. When the nucleic acid is prepared or altered synthetically, advantage can be taken of known codon preferences of the intended host.

[0045] The present invention also includes “shufflents” produced by sequence shuffling of the inventive polynucleotides to obtain a desired characteristic. Sequence shuffling is described in PCT publication No. 96/19256. See also, Zhang, J. H., et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 94:4504-4509 (1997).

[0046] The present invention also includes the use of 5′ and/or 3′ UTR regions for modulation of translation of heterologous coding sequences. Positive sequence motifs include translational initiation consensus sequences (Kozak, Nucleic Acids Res.15:8125 (1987)) and the 7-methylguanosine cap structure (Drummond et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 13:7375 (1985)). Negative elements include stable intramolecular 5′ UTR stem-loop structures (Muesing et al., Cell 48:691 (1987)) and AUG sequences or short open reading frames preceded by an appropriate AUG in the 5′ UTR (Kozak, supra, Rao et al., Mol. and Cell. Biol. 8:284 (1988)).

[0047] Further, the polypeptide-encoding segments of the polynucleotides of the present invention can be modified to alter codon usage. Altered codon usage can be employed to alter translational efficiency. Codon usage in the coding regions of the polynucleotides of the present invention can be analyzed statistically using commercially available software packages such as “Codon Preference” available from the University of Wisconsin Genetics Computer Group (see Devereaux et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 12:387-395 (1984)) or MacVector 4.1 (Eastman Kodak Co., New Haven, Conn.).

[0048] For example, the inventive nucleic acids can be optimized for enhanced expression in plants of interest. See, for example, EPA0359472; WO91/16432; Perlak et al. (1991) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:3324-3328; and Murray et al. (1989) Nucleic Acids Res. 17:477-498. In this manner, the polynucleotides can be synthesized utilizing plant-preferred codons. See, for example, Murray et al. (1989) Nucleic Acids Res. 17:477-498, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0049] The present invention provides subsequences comprising isolated nucleic acids containing at least 20 contiguous bases of the inventive sequences. For example the isolated nucleic acid includes those comprising at least 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 200, 300, 400, or 500 contiguous nucleotides of the inventive sequences. Subsequences of the isolated nucleic acid can be used to modulate or detect gene expression by introducing into the subsequences compounds which bind, intercalate, cleave and/or crosslink to nucleic acids.

[0050] The nucleic acids of the invention may conveniently comprise a multi-cloning site comprising one or more endonuclease restriction sites inserted into the nucleic acid to aid in isolation of the polynucleotide. Also, translatable sequences may be inserted to aid in the isolation of the translated polynucleotide of the present invention. For example, a hexa-histidine marker sequence provides a convenient means to purify the proteins of the present invention.

[0051] A polynucleotide of the present invention can be attached to a vector, adapter, promoter, transit peptide or linker for cloning and/or expression of a polynucleotide of the present invention. Additional sequences may be added to such cloning and/or expression sequences to optimize their function in cloning and/or expression, to aid in isolation of the polynucleotide, or to improve the introduction of the polynucleotide into a cell. Use of cloning vectors, expression vectors, adapters, and linkers is well known and extensively described in the art. For a description of such nucleic acids see, for example, Stratagene Cloning Systems, Catalogs 1995, 1996, 1997 (La Jolla, Calif.); and, Amersham Life Sciences, Inc, Catalog '97 (Arlington Heights, Ill.).

[0052] The isolated nucleic acid compositions of this invention, such as RNA, cDNA, genomic DNA, or at hybrid thereof, can be obtained from plant biological sources using any number of cloning methodologies known to those of skill in the art. In some embodiments, oligonucleotide probes that selectively hybridize, under stringent conditions, to the polynucleotides of the present invention are used to identify the desired sequence in a cDNA or genomic DNA library.

[0053] Exemplary total RNA and mRNA isolation protocols are described in Plant Molecular Biology: A Laboratory Manual, Clark, Ed., Springer-Verlag, Berlin (1997); and, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Ausubel, et al., Eds., Greene Publishing and Wiley-Interscience, New York (1995). Total RNA and mRNA isolation kits are commercially available from vendors such as Stratagene (La Jolla, Calif.), Clonetech (Palo Alto, Calif.), Pharmacia (Piscataway, N.J.), and 5′-3′ (Paoli, Pa.). See also, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,614,391; and, 5,459,253.

[0054] Typical cDNA synthesis protocols are well known to the skilled artisan and are described in such standard references as: Plant Molecular Biology: A Laboratory Manual, Clark, Ed., Springer-Verlag, Berlin (1997); and, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Ausubel, et al., Eds., Greene Publishing and Wiley-Interscience, New York (1995). cDNA synthesis kits are available from a variety of commercial vendors such as Stratagene or Pharmacia.

[0055] An exemplary method of constructing a greater than 95% pure full-length cDNA library is described by Carninci et al., Genomics, 37:327-336 (1996). Other methods for producing full-length libraries are known in the art. See, e.g., Edery et al., Mol. Cell Biol.15(6):3363-3371 (1995); and PCT Application WO 96/34981.

[0056] It is often convenient to normalize a cDNA library to create a library in which each clone is more equally represented. A number of approaches to normalize cDNA libraries are known in the art. Construction of normalized libraries is described in Ko, Nucl. Acids. Res. 18(19):5705-5711 (1990); Patanjali et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. U.S.A. 88:1943-1947 (1991); U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,482,685 and 5,637,685; and Soares et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91:9228-9232 (1994).

[0057] Subtracted cDNA libraries are another means to increase the proportion of less abundant cDNA species. See, Foote et al. in, Plant Molecular Biology; A Laboratory Manual, Clark, Ed., Springer-Verlag, Berlin (1997); Kho and Zarbl, Technique 3(2):58-63 (1991); Sive and St. John, Nucl. Acids Res. 16(22):10937 (1988); Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Ausubel, et al., Eds., Greene Publishing and Wiley-Interscience, New York (1995); and, Swaroop et al., Nucl. Acids Res. 19(8):1954 (1991). cDNA subtraction kits are commercially available. See, e.g., PCR-Select (Clontech).

[0058] To construct genomic libraries, large segments of genomic DNA are generated by random fragmentation. Examples of appropriate molecular biological techniques and instructions are found in Sambrook, et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2nd Ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Vols. 1-3 (1989), Methods in Enzymology, Vol. 152: Guide to Molecular Cloning Techniques, Berger and Kimmel, Eds., San Diego: Academic Press, Inc. (1987), Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Ausubel, et al., Eds., Greene Publishing and Wiley-Interscience, New York (1995); Plant Molecular Biology; A Laboratory Manual, Clark, Ed., Springer-Verlag, Berlin (1997). Kits for construction of genomic libraries are also commercially available.

[0059] The cDNA or genomic library can be screened using a probe based upon the sequence of a nucleic acid of the present invention such as those disclosed herein. Probes may be used to hybridize with genomic DNA or cDNA sequences to isolate homologous polynucleotides in the same or different plant species. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that various degrees of stringency of hybridization can be employed in the assay; and either the hybridization or the wash medium can be stringent. The degree of stringency can be controlled by temperature, ionic strength, pH and the presence of a partially denaturing solvent such as formamide.

[0060] Typically, stringent hybridization conditions will be those in which the salt concentration is less than about 1.5 M Na ion, typically about 0.01 to 1.0 M Na ion concentration (or other salts) at pH 7.0 to 8.3 and the temperature is at least about 30° C. for short probes (e.g., 10 to 50 nucleotides) and at least about 60° C. for long probes (e.g., greater than 50 nucleotides). Stringent conditions may also be achieved with the addition of destabilizing agents such as formamide.

[0061] Exemplary low stringency conditions include hybridization with a buffer solution of 30 to 35% formamide, 1 M NaCl, 1% SDS (sodium dodecyl sulfate) at 37° C., and a wash in 1× to 2× SSC (20× SSC=3.0 M NaCl/0.3 M trisodium citrate) at 50° C. Exemplary moderate stringency conditions include hybridization in 40 to 45% formamide, 1 M NaCl, 1% SDS at 37° C., and a wash in 0.5× to 1× SSC at 55° C. Exemplary high stringency conditions include hybridization in 50% formamide, 1 M NaCl, 1% SDS at 37° C., and a wash in 0.1× SSC at 60° C. Typically the time of hybridization is from 4 to 16 hours.

[0062] An extensive guide to the hybridization of nucleic acids is found in Tijssen, Laboratory Techniques in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology—Hybridization with Nucleic Acid Probes, Part I, Chapter 2 “Overview of principles of hybridization and the strategy of nucleic acid probe assays”, Elsevier, New York (1993); and Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Chapter 2, Ausubel, et al., Eds., Greene Publishing and Wiley-Interscience, New York (1995). Often, cDNA libraries will be normalized to increase the representation of relatively rare cDNAs.

[0063] The nucleic acids of the invention can be amplified from nucleic acid samples using amplification techniques. For instance, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology can be used to amplify the sequences of polynucleotides of the present invention and related polynucleotides directly from genomic DNA or cDNA libraries. PCR and other in vitro amplification methods may also be useful, for example, to clone nucleic acid sequences that code for proteins to be expressed, to make nucleic acids to use as probes for detecting the presence of the desired mRNA in samples, for nucleic acid sequencing, or for other purposes.

[0064] Examples of techniques useful for in vitro amplification methods are found in Berger, Sambrook, and Ausubel, as well as Mullis et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,202 (1987); and, PCR Protocols A Guide to Methods and Applications, Innis et al., Eds., Academic Press Inc., San Diego, Calif. (1990). Commercially available kits for genomic PCR amplification are known in the art. See, e.g., Advantage-GC Genomic PCR Kit (Clontech). The T4 gene 32 protein (Boehringer Mannheim) can be used to improve yield of long PCR products. PCR-based screening methods have also been described. Wilfinger et al. describe a PCR-based method in which the longest cDNA is identified in the first step so that incomplete clones can be eliminated from study. BioTechniques, 22(3):481-486 (1997).

[0065] In one aspect of the invention, nucleic acids can be amplified from a plant nucleic acid library. The nucleic acid library may be a cDNA library, a genomic library, or a library generally constructed from nuclear transcripts at any stage of intron processing. Libraries can be made from a variety of plant tissues. Good results have been obtained using mitotically active tissues such as shoot meristems, shoot meristem cultures, embryos, callus and suspension cultures, immature ears and tassels, and young seedlings. The cDNAs of the present invention were obtained from immature zygotic embryo and regenerating callus libraries.

[0066] Alternatively, the sequences of the invention can be used to isolate corresponding sequences in other organisms, particularly other plants, more particularly, other monocots. In this manner, methods such as PCR, hybridization, and the like can be used to identify such sequences having substantial sequence similarity to the sequences of the invention. See, for example, Sambrook et al. (1989) Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual (2d ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Plainview, N.Y.). and Innis et al. (1990), PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications (Academic Press, New York). Coding sequences isolated based on their sequence identity to the entire inventive coding sequences set forth herein or to fragments thereof are encompassed by the present invention.

[0067] The isolated nucleic acids of the present invention can also be prepared by direct chemical synthesis by methods such as the phosphotriester method of Narang et al., Meth. Enzymol. 68:90-99 (1979); the phosphodiester method of Brown et al., Meth. Enzymol. 68:109-151 (1979); the diethylphosphoramidite method of Beaucage et al., Tetra. Lett. 22:1859-1862 (1981); the solid phase phosphoramidite triester method described by Beaucage and Caruthers, Tetra. Letts. 22(20):1859-1862 (1981), e.g., using an automated synthesizer, e.g., as described in Needham-VanDevanter et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 12:6159-6168 (1984); and, the solid support method of U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,066. Chemical synthesis generally produces a single stranded oligonucleotide. This may be converted into double stranded DNA by hybridization with a complementary sequence, or by polymerization with a DNA polymerase using the single strand as a template. One of skill will recognize that while chemical synthesis of DNA is limited to sequences of about 100 bases, longer sequences may be obtained by the ligation of shorter sequences.

[0068] The nucleic acids of the present invention include those amplified using the following primer pairs: SEQ ID NOS: 3 and 4; 7 and 8; 11 and 12; 15 and 16; 19 and 20; 23 and 24; 27 and 28; 31 and 32; 35 and 36; and 39 and 40.

Expression Cassettes

[0069] In another embodiment expression cassettes comprising isolated nucleic acids of the present invention are provided. An expression cassette will typically comprise a polynucleotide of the present invention operably linked to transcriptional initiation regulatory sequences which will direct the transcription of the polynucleotide in the intended host cell, such as tissues of a transformed plant.

[0070] The construction of such expression cassettes which can be employed in conjunction with the present invention is well known to those of skill in the art in light of the present disclosure. See, e.g., Sambrook, et al.; Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual; Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.; (1989); Gelvin, et al.; Plant Molecular Biology Manual (1990); Plant Biotechnology: Commercial Prospects and Problems, eds. Prakash, et al.; Oxford & IBH Publishing Co.; New Delhi, Ind.; (1993); and Heslot, et al.; Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering of Yeasts; CRC Press, Inc., USA; (1992); each incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

[0071] For example, plant expression vectors may include (1) a cloned plant gene under the transcriptional control of 5′ and 3′ regulatory sequences and (2) a dominant selectable marker. Such plant expression vectors may also contain, if desired, a promoter regulatory region (e.g., one conferring inducible, constitutive, environmentally- or developmentally-regulated, or cell- or tissue-specific/selective expression), a transcription initiation start site, a ribosome binding site, an RNA processing signal, a transcription termination site, and/or a polyadenylation signal.

[0072] Constitutive, tissue-preferred or inducible promoters can be employed. Examples of constitutive promoters include the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S transcription initiation region, the 1′- or 2′- promoter derived from T-DNA of Agrobacterium tumefaciens, the actin promoter, the ubiquitin promoter, the histone H2B promoter (Nakayama et al., 1992, FEBS Lett 30:167-170), the Smas promoter, the cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase promoter (U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,439), the Nos promoter, the pEmu promoter, the rubisco promoter, the GRP1-8 promoter, and other transcription initiation regions from various plant genes known in the art.

[0073] Examples of inducible promoters are the Adh1 promoter which is inducible by hypoxia or cold stress, the Hsp70 promoter which is inducible by heat stress, the PPDK promoter which is inducible by light, the In2 promoter which is safener induced, the ERE promoter which is estrogen induced and the Pepcarboxylase promoter which is light induced.

[0074] Examples of promoters under developmental control include promoters that initiate transcription preferentially in certain tissues, such as leaves, roots, fruit, seeds, or flowers. An exemplary promoter is the anther specific promoter 5126 (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,689,049 and 5,689,051). Examples of seed-preferred promoters include, but are not limited to, 27 kD gamma zein promoter and waxy promoter, Boronat, A., Martinez, M. C., Reina, M., Puigdomenech, P. and Palau, J.; Isolation and sequencing of a 28 kD glutelin-2 gene from maize: Common elements in the 5′ flanking regions among zein and glutelin genes; Plant Sci. 47:95-102 (1986) and Reina, M., Ponte, I., Guillen, P., Boronat, A. and Palau, J., Sequence analysis of a genomic clone encoding a Zc2 protein from Zea mays W64 A, Nucleic Acids Res. 18(21):6426 (1990). See the following site relating to the waxy promoter: Kloesgen, R. B., Gierl, A., Schwarz-Sommer, Z. S. and Saedler, H., Molecular analysis of the waxy locus of Zea mays, Mol. Gen. Genet. 203:237-244 (1986). The disclosures of each of these are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0075] The barley or maize Nuc1 promoter, the maize Cim 1 promoter or the maize LTP2 promoter can be used to preferentially express in the nucellus. See for example U.S. Serial No. 60/097,233 filed Aug. 20, 1998 the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0076] Either heterologous or non-heterologous (i.e., endogenous) promoters can be employed to direct expression of the nucleic acids of the present invention. These promoters can also be used, for example, in expression cassettes to drive expression of antisense nucleic acids to reduce, increase, or alter concentration and/or composition of the proteins of the present invention in a desired tissue.

[0077] If polypepticle expression is desired, it is generally desirable to include a polyadenylation region at the 3′-end of a polynucleotide coding region. The polyadenylation region can be derived from the natural gene, from a variety of other plant genes, or from T-DNA. The 3′ end sequence to be added can be derived from, for example, the nopaline synthase or octopine synthase genes, or alternatively from another plant gene, or less preferably from any other eukaryotic gene.

[0078] An intron sequence can be added to the 5′ untranslated region or the coding sequence of the partial coding sequence to increase the amount of the mature message that accumulates. See for example Buchman and Berg, Mol. Cell Biol. 8:4395-4405 (1988); Callis et al., Genes Dev. 1:1183-1200 (1987). Use of maize introns Adh1-S intron 1, 2, and 6, the Bronze-1 intron are known in the art. See generally, The Maize Handbook, Chapter 116, Freeling and Walbot, Eds., Springer, New York (1994).

[0079] The vector comprising the sequences from a polynucleotide of the present invention will typically comprise a marker gene which confers a selectable phenotype on plant cells. Usually, the selectable marker gene will encode antibiotic or herbicide resistance. Suitable genes include those coding for resistance to the antibiotics spectinomycin and streptomycin (e.g., the aada gene), the streptomycin phosphotransferase (SPT) gene coding for streptomycin resistance, the neomycin phosphotransferase (NPTII) gene encoding kanamycin or geneticin resistance, the hygromycin phosphotransferase (HPT) gene coding for hygromycin resistance.

[0080] Suitable genes coding for resistance to herbicides include those which act to inhibit the action of acetolactate synthase (ALS), in particular the sulfonylurea-type herbicides (e.g., the acetolactate synthase (ALS) gene containing mutations leading to such resistance in particular the S4 and/or Hra mutations), those which act to inhibit action of glutamine synthase, such as phosphinothricin or basta (e.g., the bar gene), or other such genes known in the art. The bar gene encodes resistance to the herbicide basta and the ALS gene encodes resistance to the herbicide chlorsulfuron.

[0081] While useful in conjunction with the above antibiotic and herbicide-resistance selective markers (i.e. use of the CHD gene can increase transformation frequencies when using chemical selection), use of the CHD gene confers a growth advantage to transformed cells without the need for inhibitory compounds to retard non-transformed growth. Thus, CHD transformants are recovered based solely on their differential growth advantage.

[0082] Typical vectors useful for expression of genes in higher plants are well known in the art and include vectors derived from the tumor-inducing (Ti) plasmid of Agrobacterium tumefaciens described by Rogers et al., Meth. In Enzymol. 153:253-277 (1987). Exemplary A. tumefaciens vectors useful herein are plasmids pKYLX6 and pKYLX7 of Schardl et al., Gene, 61:1-11 (1987) and Berger et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:8402-8406 (1989). Another useful vector herein is plasmid pBI01.2 that is available from Clontech Laboratories, Inc. (Palo Alto, Calif.).

[0083] A variety of plant viruses that can be employed as vectors are known in the art and include cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV), geminivirus, brome mosaic virus, and tobacco mosaic virus.

[0084] A polynucleotide of the present invention can be expressed in either sense or anti-sense orientation as desired. In plant cells, it has been shown that antisense RNA inhibits gene expression by preventing the accumulation of mRNA which encodes the enzyme of interest, see, e.g., Sheehy et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:8805-8809 (1988); and Hiatt et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,801,340.

[0085] Another method of suppression is sense suppression. Introduction of nucleic acid configured in the sense orientation has been shown to be an effective means by which to block the transcription of target genes. For an example of the use of this method to modulate expression of endogenous genes see, Napoli et al., The Plant Cell 2:279-289 (1990) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,034,323. Recent work has shown suppression with the use of double stranded RNA. Such work is described in Tabara et al., Science 282:5388:430-431 (1998). Hairpin approaches of gene suppression are disclosed in WO 98/53083 and WO 99/53050.

[0086] Catalytic RNA molecules or ribozymes can also be used to inhibit expression of plant genes. The inclusion of ribozyme sequences within antisense RNAs confers RNA-cleaving activity upon them, thereby increasing the activity of the constructs. The design and use of target RNA-specific ribozymes is described in Haseloff et al., Nature 334:585-591 (1988).

[0087] A variety of cross-linking agents, alkylating agents and radical generating species as pendant groups on polynucleotides of the present invention can be used to bind, label, detect, and/or cleave nucleic acids. For example, Vlassov, V. V., et al., Nucleic Acids Res (1986) 14:4065-4076, describe covalent bonding of a single-stranded DNA fragment with alkylating derivatives of nucleotides complementary to target sequences. A report of similar work by the same group is that by Knorre, D. G., et al., Biochimie (1985) 67:785-789. Iverson and Dervan also showed sequence-specific cleavage of single-stranded DNA mediated by incorporation of a modified nucleotide which was capable of activating cleavage (J. Am. Chem. Soc. (1987) 109:1241-1243). Meyer, R. B., et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. (1989) 111:8517-8519, effect covalent crosslinking to a target nucleotide using an alkylating agent complementary to the single-stranded target nucleotide sequence. A photoactivated crosslinking to single-stranded oligonucleotides mediated by psoralen was disclosed by Lee, B. L., et al., Biochemistry (1988) 27:3197-3203. Use of crosslinking in triple-helix forming probes was also disclosed by Home, et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. (1990) 112:2435-2437. Use of N4, N4-ethanocytosine as an alkylating agent to crosslink to single-stranded oligonucleotides has also been described by Webb and Matteucci, J. Am. Chem. Soc. (1986) 108:2764-2765; Nucleic Acids Res (1986) 14:7661-7674; Feteritz et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 113:4000 (1991). Various compounds to bind, detect, label, and/or cleave nucleic acids are known in the art. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,543,507; 5,672,593; 5,484,908; 5,256,648; and, 5,681941.

Proteins

[0088] CHD proteins are named for the three functional domains they contain. These include: a modifier of chromatin organization, a helicase/ATPase domain (similar to the chromatin-remodeling factor (SNF2) first found in yeast, named after a “sucrose non-fermenting” mutant, and a DNA-binding domain. CHD proteins are suggested to be involved in a range of basic processes including modification of chromatin structure, DNA repair, regulation of transcription, etc. In particular, CHD proteins inhibit transcription probably by binding to relatively long AT tracts in double-stranded DNA via minor-groove interactions. CHD proteins fall into two sub-families. CHD1 and CHD2 belong to the first sub-family while CHD3 and CHD4 belong to the second sub-family. A major difference between these two sub-families is that the CHD of the second sub-family has a zinc-finger domain in the N-terminal end which was thought to interact with histone deacetylases. Another feature is that the DNA-binding regions of the second sub-family members are more divergent than those of the first sub-family members.

[0089] Proteins of the present invention include proteins having the disclosed sequences as well proteins coded by the disclosed polynucleotides. In addition proteins of the present invention include proteins derived from the native protein by deletion (so-called truncation), addition or substitution of one or more amino acids at one or more sites in the native protein. Such variants may result from, for example, genetic polymorphism or from human manipulation. Methods for such manipulations are generally known in the art.

[0090] For example, amino acid sequence variants of the polypeptide can be prepared by mutations in the cloned DNA sequence encoding the native protein of interest. Methods for mutagenesis and nucleotide sequence alterations are well known in the art. See, for example, Walker and Gaastra, eds. (1983) Techniques in Molecular Biology (MacMillan Publishing Company, New York); Kunkel (1985) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 82:488-492; Kunkel et al. (1987) Methods Enzymol. 154:367-382; Sambrook et al. (1989) Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual (Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.); U.S. Pat. No. 4,873,192; and the references cited therein; herein incorporated by reference. Guidance as to appropriate amino acid substitutions that do not affect biological activity of the protein of interest may be found in the model of Dayhoff et al. (1978) Atlas of Protein Sequence and Structure (Natl. Biomed. Res. Found., Washington, D.C.), herein incorporated by reference. Conservative substitutions, such as exchanging one amino acid with another having similar properties, rnay be preferred.

[0091] In constructing variants of the proteins of interest, modifications to the nucleotide sequences encoding the variants will generally be made such that variants continue to possess the desired activity.

[0092] The isolated proteins of the present invention include a polypeptide comprising at least 30 contiguous amino acids encoded by any one of the nucleic acids of the present invention, or polypeptides that are conservatively modified variants thereof. The proteins of the present invention or variants thereof can comprise any number of contiguous amino acid residues from a polypeptide of the present invention, wherein that number is selected from the group of integers consisting of from 25 to the number of residues in a full-length polypeptide of the present invention. Optionally, this subsequence of contiguous amino acids is at least 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, or 500 amino acids in length.

[0093] The present invention includes catalytically active polypeptides (i.e., enzymes). Catalytically active polypeptides will generally have a specific activity of at least about 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or 95% that of the native (non-synthetic), endogenous polypeptide. Further, the substrate specificity (k_(cat)/K_(m)) is optionally substantially similar to the native (non-synthetic), endogenous polypeptide. Typically, the K_(m) will be at least about 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or 95% that of the native (non-synthetic), endogenous polypeptide. Methods of assaying and quantifying measures of enzymatic activity and substrate specificity (k_(cat)/K_(m)), are well known to those of skill in the art.

[0094] The present invention includes modifications that can be made to an inventive protein. In particular, it may be desirable to diminish the activity of the gene. Other modifications may be made to facilitate the cloning, expression, or incorporation of the targeting molecule into a fusion protein. Such modifications are well known to those of skill in the art and include, for example, a methionine added at the amino terminus to provide an initiation site, or additional amino acids (e.g., poly His) placed on either terminus to create conveniently located restriction sites or termination codons or purification sequences.

[0095] Using the nucleic acids of the present invention, one may express a protein of the present invention in recombinantly engineered cells such as bacteria, yeast, insect, mammalian, or plant cells. The cells produce the protein in a non-natural condition (e.g., in quantity, composition, location, and/or time), because they have been genetically altered through human intervention to do so.

[0096] Typically, an intermediate host cell will be used in the practice of this invention to increase the copy number of the cloning vector. With an increased copy number, the vector containing the gene of interest can be isolated in significant quantities for introduction into the desired plant cells.

[0097] Host cells that can be used in the practice of this invention include prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Prokaryotes include bacterial hosts such as Eschericia coli, Salmonella typhimiurium, and Serratia marcescens. Eukaryotic hosts such as yeast or filamentous fungi may also be used in this invention. Since these hosts are also microorganisms, it will be essential to ensure that plant promoters which do not cause expression of the polypeptide in bacteria are used in the vector.

[0098] Commonly used prokaryotic control sequences include such commonly used promoters as the beta lactamase (penicillinase) and lactose (lac) promoter systems (Chang et al., Nature 198:1056 (1977)), the tryptophan (trp) promoter system (Goeddel et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 8:4057 (1980)) and the lambda derived P L promoter and N-gene ribosome binding site (Shimatake et al., Nature 292:128 (1981)). The inclusion of selection markers in DNA vectors transfected in E. coli is also useful. Examples of such markers include genes specifying resistance to ampicillin, tetracycline, or chloramphenicol.

[0099] The vector is selected to allow introduction into the appropriate host cell. Bacterial vectors are typically of plasmid or phage origin. Expression systems for expressing a protein of the present invention are available using Bacillus sp. and Salmonella (Palva, et al., Gene 22:229-235 (1983); Mosbach, et al., Nature 302:543-545 (1983)).

[0100] Synthesis of heterologous proteins in yeast is well known. See Sherman, F., et al., Methods in Yeast Genetics, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (1982). Two widely utilized yeast for production of eukaryotic proteins are Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Pichia pastoris. Vectors, strains, and protocols for expression in Saccharomyces and Pichia are known in the art and available from commercial suppliers (e.g., Invitrogen). Suitable vectors usually have expression control sequences, such as promoters, including 3-phosphoglycerate kinase or alcohol oxidase, and an origin of replication, termination sequences and the like as desired.

[0101] A protein of the present invention, once expressed, can be isolated from yeast by lysing the cells and applying standard protein isolation techniques to the lysates. The monitoring of the purification process can be accomplished by using Western blot techniques or radioimmunoassay of other standard immunoassay techniques.

[0102] The proteins of the present invention can also be constructed using non-cellular synthetic methods. Solid phase synthesis of proteins of less than about 50 amino acids in length may be accomplished by attaching the C-terminal amino acid of the sequence to an insoluble support followed by sequential addition of the remaining amino acids in the sequence. Techniques for solid phase synthesis are described by Barany and Merrifield, Solid-Phase Peptide Synthesis, pp. 3-284 in The Peptides: Analysis, Synthesis, Biology. Vol. 2: Special Methods in Peptide Synthesis, Part A.; Merrifield, et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 85:2149-2156 (1963), and Stewart et al., Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis, 2nd ed., Pierce Chem. Co., Rockford, Ill. (1984). Proteins of greater length may be synthesized by condensation of the amino and carboxy termini of shorter fragments. Methods of forming peptide bonds by activation of a carboxy terminal end (e.g., by the use of the coupling reagent N,N′-dicycylohexylcarbodiimide)) is known to those of skill.

[0103] The proteins of this invention, recombinant or synthetic, may be purified to substantial purity by standard techniques well known in the art, including detergent solubilization, selective precipitation with such substances as ammonium sulfate, column chromatography, immunopurification methods, and others. See, for instance, R. Scopes, Protein Purification: Principles and Practice, Springer-Verlag: New York (1982); Deutscher, Guide to Protein Purification, Academic Press (1990). For example, antibodies may be raised to the proteins as described herein. Purification from E. coli can be achieved following procedures described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,511,503. Detection of the expressed protein is achieved by methods known in the art and include, for example, radioimmunoassays, Western blotting techniques or immunoprecipitation.

[0104] The present invention further provides a method for modulating (i.e., increasing or decreasing) the concentration or composition of the polypeptides of the present invention in a plant or part thereof. Modulation can be effected by increasing or decreasing the concentration and/or the composition (i.e., the ratio of the polypeptides of the present invention) in a plant.

[0105] The method comprises transforming a plant cell with an expression cassette comprising a polynucleotide of the present invention to obtain a transformed plant cell, growing the transformed plant cell under conditions allowing expression of the polynucleotide in the plant cell in an amount sufficient to modulate concentration and/or composition in the plant cell.

[0106] In some embodiments, the content and/or composition of polypeptides of the present invention in a plant may be modulated by altering, in vivo or in vitro, the promoter of a non-isolated gene of the present invention to up- or down-regulate gene expression. In some embodiments, the coding regions of native genes of the present invention can be altered via substitution, addition, insertion, or deletion to decrease activity of the encoded enzyme. See, e.g., Kmiec, U.S. Pat. No. 5,565,350; Zarling et al., PCT/US93/03868. One method of down-regulation of the protein involves using PEST sequences that provide a target for degradation of the protein.

[0107] In some embodiments, an isolated nucleic acid (e.g., a vector) comprising a promoter sequence is transfected into a plant cell. Subsequently, a plant cell comprising the promoter operably linked to a polynucleotide of the present invention is selected for by means known to those of skill in the art such as, but not limited to, Southern blot, DNA sequencing, or PCR analysis using primers specific to the promoter and to the gene and detecting amplicons produced therefrom. A plant or plant part altered or modified by the foregoing embodiments is grown under plant forming conditions for a time sufficient to modulate the concentration and/or composition of polypeptides of the present invention in the plant. Plant forming conditions are well known in the art.

[0108] In general, content of the polypeptide is increased or decreased by at least 5%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, or 90% relative to a native control plant, plant part, or cell lacking the aforementioned expression cassette. Modulation in the present invention may occur during and/or subsequent to growth of the plant to the desired stage of development. Modulating nucleic acid expression temporally and/or in particular tissues can be controlled by employing the appropriate promoter operably linked to a polynucleotide of the present invention in, for example, sense or antisense orientation as discussed in greater detail, supra. Induction of expression of a polynucleotide of the present invention can also be controlled by exogenous administration of an effective amount of inducing compound. Inducible promoters and inducing compounds which activate expression from these promoters are well known in the art. In preferred embodiments, the polypeptides of the present invention are modulated in monocots or dicots, preferably maize, soybeans, sunflower, sorghum, canola, wheat, alfalfa, rice, barley and millet.

[0109] Means of detecting the proteins of the present invention are not critical aspects of the present invention. In a preferred embodiment, the proteins are detected and/or quantified using any of a number of well recognized immunological binding assays (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,366,241; 4,376,110; 4,517,288; and 4,837,168). For a review of the general immunoassays, see also Methods in Cell Biology, Vol. 37: Antibodies in Cell Biology, Asai, Ed., Academic Press, Inc. New York (1993); Basic and Clinical Immunology 7th Edition, Stites & Terr, Eds. (1991). Moreover, the immunoassays of the present invention can be performed in any of several configurations, e.g., those reviewed in Enzyme Immunoassay, Maggio, Ed., CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla. (1980); Tijan, Practice and Theory of Enzyme Immunoassays, Laboratory Techniques in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., Amsterdam (1985); Harlow and Lane, supra; Immunoassay: A Practical Guide, Chan, Ed., Academic Press, Orlando, Fla. (1987); Principles and Practice of Immunoassays, Price and Newman Eds., Stockton Press, NY (1991); and Non-isotopic Immunoassays, Ngo, Ed., Plenum Press, NY (1988).

[0110] Typical methods include Western blot (immunoblot) analysis, analytic biochemical methods such as electrophoresis, capillary electrophoresis, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), thin layer chromatography (TLC), hyperdiffusion chromatography, and the like, and various immunological methods such as fluid or gel precipitin reactions, immunodiffusion (single or double), immunoelectrophoresis, radioimmunoassays (RIAs), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), immunofluorescent assays, and the like.

[0111] Non-radioactive labels are often attached by indirect means. Generally, a ligand molecule (e.g., biotin) is covalently bound to the molecule. The ligand then binds to an anti-ligand (e.g., streptavidin) molecule which is either inherently detectable or covalently bound to a signal system, such as a detectable enzyme, a fluorescent compound, or a chemiluminescent compound. A number of ligands and anti-ligands can be used. Where a ligand has a natural anti-ligand, for example, biotin, thyroxine, and cortisol, it can be used in conjunction with the labeled, naturally occurring anti-ligands. Alternatively, any haptenic or antigenic compound can be used in combination with an antibody.

[0112] The molecules can also be conjugated directly to signal generating compounds, e.g., by conjugation with an enzyme or fluorophore. Enzymes of interest as labels will primarily be hydrolases, particularly phosphatases, esterases and glycosidases, or oxidoreductases, particularly peroxidases. Fluorescent compounds include fluorescein and its derivatives, rhodamine and its derivatives, dansyl, umbelliferone, etc. Chemiluminescent compounds include luciferin, and 2,3-dihydrophthalazinediones, e.g., luminol. For a review of various labeling or signal producing systems which may be used, see, U.S. Pat. No. 4,391,904, which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0113] Some assay formats do not require the use of labeled components. For instance, agglutination assays can be used to detect the presence of the target antibodies. In this case, antigen-coated particles are agglutinated by samples comprising the target antibodies. In this format, none of the components need be labeled and the presence of the target antibody is detected by simple visual inspection.

[0114] The proteins of the present invention can be used for identifying compounds that bind to (e.g., substrates), and/or increase or decrease (i.e., modulate) the enzymatic activity of, catalytically active polypeptides of the present invention. The method comprises contacting a polypeptide of the present invention with a compound whose ability to bind to or modulate enzyme activity is to be determined. The polypeptide employed will have at least 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% or 95% of the specific activity of the native, full-length polypeptide of the present invention (e.g., enzyme). Methods of measuring enzyme kinetics are well known in the art. See, e.g., Segel, Biochemical Calculations, 2^(nd) ed., John Wiley and Sons, New York (1976).

[0115] Antibodies can be raised to a protein of the present invention, including individual, allelic, strain, or species variants, and fragments thereof, both in their naturally occurring (full-length) forms and in recombinant forms. Additionally, antibodies are raised to these proteins in either their native configurations or in non-native configurations. Anti-idiotypic antibodies can also be generated. Many methods of making antibodies are known to persons of skill.

[0116] In some instances, it is desirable to prepare monoclonal antibodies from various mammalian hosts, such as mice, rodents, primates, humans, etc. Description of techniques for preparing such monoclonal antibodies are found in, e.g., Basic and Clinical Immunology, 4th ed., Stites et al., Eds., Lange Medical Publications, Los Altos, Calif., and references cited therein; Harlow and Lane, Supra; Goding, Monoclonal Antibodies: Principles and Practice, 2nd ed., Academic Press, New York, N.Y. (1986); and Kohler and Milstein, Nature 256:495-497 (1975).

[0117] Other suitable techniques involve selection of libraries of recombinant antibodies in phage or similar vectors (see, e.g., Huse et al., Science 246:1275-1281 (1989); and Ward, et al., Nature 341:544-546 (1989); and Vaughan et al., Nature Biotechnology, 14:309-314 (1996)). Alternatively, high avidity human monoclonal antibodies can be obtained from transgenic mice comprising fragments of the unrearranged human heavy and light chain lg loci (i.e., minilocus transgenic mice). Fishwild et al., Nature Biotech., 14:845-851 (1996). Also, recombinant immunoglobulins may be produced. See, Cabilly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567; and Queen et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 86:10029-10033 (1989).

[0118] The antibodies of this invention can be used for affinity chromatography in isolating proteins of the present invention, for screening expression libraries for particular expression products such as normal or abnormal protein or for raising anti-idiotypic antibodies which are useful for detecting or diagnosing various pathological conditions related to the presence of the respective antigens.

[0119] Frequently, the proteins and antibodies of the present invention will be labeled by joining, either covalently or non-covalently, a substance which provides for a detectable signal. A wide variety of labels and conjugation techniques are known and are reported extensively in both the scientific and patent literature. Suitable labels include radionucleotides, enzymes, substrates, cofactors, inhibitors, fluorescent moieties, chemiluminescent moieties, magnetic particles, and the like.

Transformation of Cells

[0120] The method of transformation is not critical to the present invention; various methods of transformation are currently available. As newer methods are available to transform crops or other host cells they may be directly applied. Accordingly, a wide variety of methods have been developed to insert a DNA sequence into the genome of a host cell to obtain the transcription and/or translation of the sequence to effect phenotypic changes in the organism. Thus, any method which provides for efficient transformation/transfection may be employed.

[0121] A DNA sequence coding for the desired polynucleotide of the present invention, for example a cDNA or a genomic sequence encoding a full length protein, can be used to construct an expression cassette which can be introduced into the desired plant. Isolated nucleic acid acids of the present invention can be introduced into plants according techniques known in the art. Generally, expression cassettes as described above and suitable for transformation of plant cells are prepared.

[0122] Techniques for transforming a wide variety of higher plant species are well known and described in the technical, scientific, and patent literature. See, for example, Weising et al., Ann. Rev. Genet. 22:421-477 (1988). For example, the DNA construct may be introduced directly into the genomic DNA of the plant cell using techniques such as electroporation, PEG poration, particle bombardment, silicon fiber delivery, or microinjection of plant cell protoplasts or embryogenic callus. See, e.g., Tomes et al., Direct DNA Transfer into Intact Plant Cells Via Microprojectile Bombardment. pp.197-213 in Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture, Fundamental Methods. eds. O. L. Gamborg and G. C. Phillips. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg New York, 1995. Alternatively, the DNA constructs may be combined with suitable T-DNA flanking regions and introduced into a conventional Agrobacterium tumefaciens host vector. The virulence functions of the Agrobacterium tumefaciens host will direct the insertion of the construct and adjacent marker into the plant cell DNA when the cell is infected by the bacteria. See, U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,616.

[0123] The introduction of DNA constructs using polyethylene glycol precipitation is described in Paszkowski et al., Embo J. 3:2717-2722 (1984). Electroporation techniques are described in Fromm et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 82:5824 (1985). Ballistic transformation techniques are described in Klein et al., Nature 327:70-73 (1987).

[0124]Agrobacterium tumefaciens-meditated transformation techniques are well described in the scientific literature. See, for example Horsch et al., Science 233:496-498 (1984), and Fraley et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 80:4803 (1983). For instance, Agrobacterium transformation of maize is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,981,840. Agrobacterium transformation of soybean is described in US Pat. No. 5,563,055.

[0125] Other methods of transformation include (1) Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation (see, e.g., Lichtenstein and Fuller In: Genetic Engineering, Vol. 6, PWJ Rigby, Ed., London, Academic Press, 1987; and Lichtenstein, C. P., and Draper, J,. In: DNA Cloning, Vol. II, D. M. Glover, Ed., Oxford, IRI Press, 1985), Application PCT/US87102512 (WO 88/02405 published Apr. 7, 1988) describes the use of A. rhizogenes strain A4 and its Ri plasmid along with A. tumefaciens vectors pARC8 or pARC16 (2) liposome-mediated DNA uptake (see, e.g., Freeman et al., Plant Cell Physiol. 25:1353, (1984)), (3) the vortexing method (see, e.g., Kindle, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87:1228, (1990)).

[0126] DNA can also be introduced into plants by direct DNA transfer into pollen as described by Zhou et al., Methods in Enzymology, 101:433 (1983); D. Hess, Intern Rev. Cytol., 107:367 (1987); Luo et al., Plant Mol. Biol. Reporter, 6:165 (1988). Expression of polypeptide coding polynucleotides can be obtained by injection of the DNA into reproductive organs of a plant as described by Pena et al., Nature, 325:274 (1987). DNA can also be injected directly into the cells of immature embryos and the rehydration of desiccated embryos as described by Neuhaus et al., Theor. AppI. Genet., 75:30 (1987); and Benbrook et al., in Proceedings Bio Expo 1986, Butterworth, Stoneham, Mass., pp. 27-54 (1986).

[0127] Animal and lower eukaryotic (e.g., yeast) host cells are competent or rendered competent for transformation by various means. There are several well-known methods of introducing DNA into animal cells. These include: calcium phosphate precipitation, fusion of the recipient cells with bacterial protoplasts containing the DNA, treatment of the recipient cells with liposomes containing the DNA, DEAE dextran, electroporation, biolistics, and micro-injection of the DNA directly into the cells. The transfected cells are cultured by means well known in the art. Kuchler, R. J., Biochemical Methods in Cell Culture and Virology, Dowden, Hutchinson and Ross, Inc. (1977).

[0128] Altering the Culture Medium to Suppress Somatic Embryogenesis in Non-Transformed Plant Cells and/or Tissues to Provide for a Positive Section Means of Transformed Plant Cells

[0129] Using the following methods for controlling somatic embryogenesis, it is possible to alter plant tissue culture media components to suppress somatic embryogenesis in a plant species of interest (often having multiple components that potentially could be adjusted to impart this effect). Such conditions would not impart a negative or toxic in vitro environment for wild-type tissue, but instead would simply not produce a somatic embryogenic growth form. Suppressing the expression of the CHD gene will stimulate somatic embryogenesis and growth in the transformed cells or tissue, providing a clear differential growth screen useful for identifying transformants.

[0130] Altering a wide variety of media components can modulate somatic embryogenesis (either stimulating or suppressing embryogenesis depending on the species and particular media component). Examples of media components which, when altered, can stimulate or suppress somatic embryogenesis include;

[0131] 1) the basal medium itself (macronutrient, micronutrients and vitamins; see T. A. Thorpe, 1981 for review, “Plant Tissue Culture: Methods and Applications in Agriculture”, Academic Press, NY),

[0132] 2) plant phytohormones such as auxins (indole acetic acid, indole butyric acid, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, naphthaleneacetic acid, picloram, dicamba and other functional analogues), cytokinins (zeatin, kinetin, benzyl amino purine, 2-isopentyl adenine and functionally-related compounds) abscisic acid, adenine, and gibberellic acid,

[0133] 3) and other compounds that exert “growth regulator” effects such as coconut water, casein hydrolysate, and proline, and

[0134] 4) the type and concentration of gelling agent, pH and sucrose concentration.

[0135] Changes in the individual components listed above (or in some cases combinations of components) have been demonstrated in the literature to modulate in vitro somatic embryogenesis across a wide range of dicotyledonous and monocotyledonous species. For a compilation of examples, see E. F. George et al. 1987. Plant Tissue Culture Media, Vol. 1: Formulations and Uses. Exergetics, Ltd., Publ., Edington, England.

Transgenic Plant Regeneration

[0136] Transformed plant cells which are derived by any of the above transformation techniques can be cultured to regenerate a whole plant which possesses the transformed genotype. Such regeneration techniques often rely on manipulation of certain phytohormones in a tissue culture growth medium, typically relying on a biocide and/or herbicide marker that has been introduced together with a polynucleotide of the present invention. For transformation and regeneration of maize see, Gordon-Kamm et al., The Plant Cell, 2:603-618 (1990).

[0137] Plants cells transformed with a plant expression vector can be regenerated, e.g., from single cells, callus tissue or leaf discs according to standard plant tissue culture techniques. It is well known in the art that various cells, tissues, and organs from almost any plant can be successfully cultured to regenerate an entire plant. Plant regeneration from cultured protoplasts is described in Evans et al., Protoplasts Isolation and Culture, Handbook of Plant Cell Culture, Macmillan Publishing Company, New York, pp.124-176 (1983); and Binding, Regeneration of Plants, Plant Protoplasts, CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp. 21-73 (1985).

[0138] The regeneration of plants containing the foreign gene introduced by Agrobacterium can be achieved as described by Horsch et al., Science, 227:1229-1231 (1985) and Fraley et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 80:4803 (1983). This procedure typically produces shoots within two to four weeks and these transformant shoots are then transferred to an appropriate root-inducing medium containing the selective agent and an antibiotic to prevent bacterial growth. Transgenic plants of the present invention may be fertile or sterile.

[0139] Regeneration can also be obtained from plant callus, explants, organs, or parts thereof. Such regeneration techniques are described generally in Klee et al., Ann. Rev. of Plant Phys. 38:467-486 (1987). The regeneration of plants from either single plant protoplasts or various explants is well known in the art. See, for example, Methods for Plant Molecular Biology, A. Weissbach and H. Weissbach, eds., Academic Press, Inc., San Diego, Calif. (1988). For maize cell culture and regeneration see generally, The Maize Handbook, Freeling and Walbot, Eds., Springer, New York (1994); Corn and Corn Improvement, 3^(rd) edition, Sprague and Dudley Eds., American Society of Agronomy, Madison, Wis. (1988).

[0140] One of skill will recognize that after the expression cassette is stably incorporated in transgenic plants and confirmed to be operable, it can be introduced into other plants by sexual crossing. Any of a number of standard breeding techniques can be used, depending upon the species to be crossed.

[0141] In vegetatively propagated crops, mature transgenic plants can be propagated by the taking of cuttings, via production of apomictic seed, or by tissue culture techniques to produce multiple identical plants. Selection of desirable transgenics is made and new varieties are obtained and propagated vegetatively for commercial use. In seed propagated crops, mature transgenic plants can be self crossed to produce a homozygous inbred plant. The inbred plant produces seed containing the newly introduced heterologous nucleic acid. These seeds can be grown to produce plants that would produce the selected phenotype.

[0142] Parts obtained from the regenerated plant, such as flowers, seeds, leaves, branches, fruit, and the like are included in the invention, provided that these parts comprise cells comprising the isolated nucleic acid of the present invention. Progeny and variants, and mutants of the regenerated plants are also included within the scope of the invention, provided that these parts comprise the introduced nucleic acid sequences.

[0143] Transgenic plants expressing a selectable marker can be screened for transmission of the nucleic acid of the present invention by, for example, standard immunoblot and DNA detection techniques. Transgenic lines are also typically evaluated on levels of expression of the heterologous nucleic acid. Expression at the RNA level can be determined initially to identify and quantitate expression-positive plants. Standard techniques for RNA analysis can be employed and include PCR amplification assays using oligonucleotide primers designed to amplify only the heterologous RNA templates and solution hybridization assays using heterologous nucleic acid-specific probes. The RNA-positive plants can then be analyzed for protein expression by Western immunoblot analysis using the specifically reactive antibodies of the present invention. In addition, in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry according to standard protocols can be done using heterologous nucleic acid specific polynucleotide probes and antibodies, respectively, to localize sites of expression within transgenic tissue. Generally, a number of transgenic lines are usually screened for the incorporated nucleic acid to identify and select plants with the most appropriate expression profiles.

[0144] A preferred embodiment is a transgenic plant that is homozygous for the added heterologous nucleic acid; i.e., a transgenic plant that contains two added nucleic acid sequences, one gene at the same locus on each chromosome of a chromosome pair. A homozygous transgenic plant can be obtained by sexually mating (selfing) a heterozygous transgenic plant that contains a single added heterologous nucleic acid, germinating some of the seed produced and analyzing the resulting plants produced for altered expression of a polynucleotide of the present invention relative to a control plant (i.e., native, non-transgenic). Back-crossing to a parental plant and out-crossing with a non-transgenic plant are also contemplated. Alternatively, propagation of heterozygous transgenic plants could be accomplished through apomixis.

[0145] The present invention provides a method of genotyping a plant comprising a polynucleotide of the present invention. Genotyping provides a means of distinguishing homologs of a chromosome pair and can be used to differentiate segregants in a plant population. Molecular marker methods can be used for phylogenetic studies, characterizing genetic relationships among crop varieties, identifying crosses or somatic hybrids, localizing chromosomal segments affecting monogenic traits, map based cloning, and the study of quantitative inheritance. See, e.g., Plant Molecular Biology: A Laboratory Manual, Chapter 7, Clark, Ed., Springer-Verlag, Berlin (1997). For molecular marker methods, see generally, The DNA Revolution by Andrew H. Paterson 1996 (Chapter 2) in: Genome Mapping in Plants (ed. Andrew H. Paterson) by Academic Press/R. G. Landis Company, Austin, Tex., pp.7-21.

[0146] The particular method of genotyping in the present invention may employ any number of molecular marker analytic techniques such as, but not limited to, restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs). RFLPs are the product of allelic differences between DNA restriction fragments caused by nucleotide sequence variability. Thus, the present invention further provides a means to follow segregation of a gene or nucleic acid of the present invention as well as chromosomal sequences genetically linked to these genes or nucleic acids using such techniques as RFLP analysis.

[0147] Plants which can be used in the method of the invention include monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants. Preferred plants include maize, wheat, rice, barley, oats, sorghum, millet, rye, soybean, sunflower, alfalfa, canola, cotton, or turf grass.

[0148] Seeds derived from plants regenerated from transformed plant cells, plant parts or plant tissues, or progeny derived from the regenerated transformed plants, may be used directly as feed or food, or further processing may occur.

[0149] All publications cited in this application are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

[0150] The present invention will be further described by reference to the following detailed examples. It is understood, however, that there are many extensions, variations, and modifications on the basic theme of the present invention beyond that shown in the examples and description, which are within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Library Construction Used for the Maize CHD EST's

[0151] A. Total RNA Isolation

[0152] Total RNA was isolated from maize embryo and regenerating callus tissues with TRIzol Reagent (Life Technology Inc. Gaithersburg, Md.) using a modification of the guanidine isothiocyanate/acid-phenol procedure described by Chomczynski and Sacchi (Chomczynski, P., and Sacchi, N. Anal. Biochem. 162, 156 (1987)). In brief, plant tissue samples were pulverized in liquid nitrogen before the addition of the TRIzol Reagent, and then were further homogenized with a mortar and pestle. Addition of chloroform followed by centrifugation was conducted for separation of an aqueous phase and an organic phase. The total RNA was recovered by precipitation with isopropyl alcohol from the aqueous phase.

[0153] B. Poly(A)+ RNA Isolation

[0154] The selection of poly(A)+ RNA from total RNA was performed using PolyATact system (Promega Corporation. Madison, Wis.). In brief, biotinylated oligo(dT) primers were used to hybridize to the 3′ poly(A) tails on mRNA. The hybrids were captured using streptavidin coupled to paramagnetic particles and a magnetic separation stand. The mRNA was washed at high stringent condition and eluted by RNase-free deionized water.

[0155] C. cDNA Library Construction

[0156] cDNA synthesis was performed and unidirectional cDNA libraries were constructed using the SuperScript Plasmid System (Life Technology Inc. Gaithersburg, Md.). The first stand of cDNA was synthesized by priming an oligo(dT) primer containing a Not I site. The reaction was catalyzed by SuperScript Reverse Transcriptase II at 45° C. The second strand of cDNA was labeled with alpha-³²P-dCTP and a portion of the reaction was analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis to determine cDNA sizes. cDNA molecules smaller than 500 base pairs and unligated adapters were removed by Sephacryl-S400 chromatography. The selected cDNA molecules were ligated into pSPORT1 vector in between of Not I and Sal I sites.

[0157] D. Genomic Library Construction into BAC (Bacterial Artificial Chromosome) Vectors.

[0158] BAC library were constructed according Texas A&M BAC center protocol. High molecular weight DNA isolated from line Mol7 embedded in LMP agarose microbeads were partially digested by HindIII. After partial digestion, the DNA was size-selected pulsed-field gel electrophoresis to remove the smaller DNA fragments that can compete more effectively than the larger DNA fragments for vector ends. The size-selected DNA fragments were ligated into pBeloBAC11 in HindIII site.

Example 2 Sequencing and cDNA Subtraction Procedures Used for Maize CHD EST's

[0159] A. Sequencing Template Preparation

[0160] Individual colonies were picked and DNA was prepared either by PCR with M13 forward primers and M13 reverse primers, or by plasmid isolation. All the cDNA clones were sequenced using M13 reverse primers.

[0161] B. Q-Bot Subtraction Procedure

[0162] cDNA libraries subjected to the subtraction procedure were plated out on 22×22 cm² agar plate at density of about 3,000 colonies per plate. The plates were incubated in a 37° C. incubator for 12-24 hours. Colonies were picked into 384-well plates by a robot colony picker, Q-bot (GENETIX Limited). These plates were incubated overnight at 37° C.

[0163] Once sufficient colonies were picked, they were pinned onto 22×22 cm² nylon membranes using Q-bot. Each membrane contained 9,216 colonies or 36,864 colonies. These membranes were placed onto agar plate with appropriate antibiotic. The plates were incubated at 37° C. for overnight.

[0164] After colonies were recovered on the second day, these filters were placed on filter paper prewetted with denaturing solution for four minutes, then were incubated on top of a boiling water bath for additional four minutes. The filters were then placed on filter paper prewetted with neutralizing solution for four minutes. After excess solution was removed by placing the filters on dry filter papers for one minute, the colony side of the filters were place into Proteinase K solution, incubated at 37° C. for 40-50 minutes. The filters were placed on dry filter papers to dry overnight. DNA was then cross-linked to nylon membrane by UV light treatment.

[0165] Colony hybridization was conducted as described by Sambrook, J., Fritsch, E. F. and Maniatis, T., (in Molecular Cloning: A laboratory Manual, 2^(nd) Edition). The following probes were used in colony hybridization:

[0166] 1. First strand cDNA from the same tissue from which the library was made to remove the most redundant clones.

[0167] 2. 48-192 most redundant cDNA clones from the same library based on previous sequencing data.

[0168] 3. 192 most redundant cDNA clones in the entire corn sequence database.

[0169] 4. A Sal-A20 oligo nucleotide: TCG ACC CAC GCG TCC GAA AAA AAA AAA AAA AAA AM, removes clones containing a poly A tail but no cDNA.

[0170] 5. cDNA clones derived from rRNA.

[0171] The image of the autoradiography was scanned into computer and the signal intensity and cold colony addresses of each colony was analyzed. Re-arraying of cold-colonies from 384 well plates to 96 well plates was conducted using Q-bot.

Example 3 Identification of Maize CHD EST's From a Computer Homology Search

[0172] Gene identities were determined by conducting BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool; Altschul, S. F., et al., (1993) J. Mol. Biol. 215:403-410; see also www.ncbi.nim.nih.gov/BLAST/) searches under default parameters for similarity to sequences contained in the BLAST “nr” database (comprising all non-redundant GenBank CDS translations, sequences derived from the 3-dimensional structure Brookhaven Protein Data Bank, the last major release of the SWISS-PROT protein sequence database, EMBL, and DDBJ databases). The cDNA sequences were analyzed for similarity to all publicly available DNA sequences contained in the “nr” database using the BLASTN algorithm. The DNA sequences were translated in all reading frames and compared for similarity to all publicly available protein sequences contained in the “nr” database using the BLASTX algorithm (Gish, W. and States, D. J. (1993) Nature Genetics 3:266-272) provided by the NCBl. In some cases, the sequencing data from two or more clones containing overlapping segments of DNA were used to construct contiguous DNA sequences.

Example 4 Transformation and Regeneration of Maize Callus

[0173] Expression vectors useful for modulating CHD expression are those that down-regulate CHD levels or activity (abbreviated hereafter as CHD-DR constructs). A CHD-DR construct is an expression cassette in which the transcribed RNA results in decreased levels of CHD protein in the cell. Examples would include expressing antisense, expressing an inverted-repeat sequence (which will form a hairpin) constructed from a portion of the CHD sequence, expressing the CHD sequence fused to another such “hairpin” forming sequence, or expressing CHD in a manner that will favor co-suppression of endogenous CHD.

[0174] Transformation of a CHD-DR construct (whether antisense, hairpin, or co-suppression-based) along with a marker-expression cassette (for example, UBI::moPAT-GPFm::pinII) into genotype Hi-II follows a well-established bombardment transformation protocol used for introducing DNA into the scutellum of immature maize embryos (Songstad, D. D. et al., In Vitro Cell Dev. Biol. Plant 32:179-183, 1996). It is noted that any suitable method of transformation can be used, such as Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and many other methods. To prepare suitable target tissue for transformation, ears are surface sterilized in 50% Chlorox bleach plus 0.5% Micro detergent for 20 minutes, and rinsed two times with sterile water. The immature embryos (approximately 1-1.5 mm in length) are excised and placed embryo axis side down (scutellum side up), 25 embryos per plate. These are cultured onto medium containing N6 salts, Erikkson's vitamins, 0,69 g/l proline, 2 mg/l 2,4-D and 3% sucrose. After 4-5 days of incubation in the dark at 28° C., embryos are removed from the first medium and cultured onto similar medium containing 12% sucrose. Embryos are allowed to acclimate to this medium for 3 h prior to transformation. The scutellar surface of the immature embryos is targeted using particle bombardment. Embryos are transformed using the PDS-1000 Helium Gun from Bio-Rad at one shot per sample using 650PSI rupture disks. DNA delivered per shot averages approximately 0.1667 μg. Following bombardment, all embryos are maintained on standard maize culture medium (N6 salts, Erikkson's vitamins, 0.69 g/l proline, 2 mg/l 2,4-D, 3% sucrose) for 2-3 days and then transferred to N6-based medium containing 3 mg/L Bialaphos®. Plates are maintained at 28° C. in the dark and are observed for colony recovery with transfers to fresh medium every two to three weeks. After approximately 10 weeks of selection, selection-resistant GFP positive callus clones were sampled for PCR and activity of the polynucleotide of interest. Positive lines were transferred to 288J medium, an MS-based medium with lower sucrose and hormone levels, to initiate plant regeneration. Following somatic embryo maturation (2-4 weeks), well-developed somatic embryos were transferred to medium for germination and transferred to the lighted culture room. Approximately 7-10 days later, developing plantlets were transferred to medium in tubes for 7-10 days until plantlets were well established. Plants were then transferred to inserts in flats (equivalent to 2.5″ pot) containing potting soil and grown for 1 week in a growth chamber, subsequently grown an additional 1-2 weeks in the greenhouse, then transferred to Classic™ 600 pots (1.6 gallon) and grown to maturity. Plants are monitored for expression of the polynucleotide of interest. Recovered colonies and plants are scored based on GFP visual expression, leaf painting sensitivity to a 1% application of Ignite® herbicide, and molecular characterization via PCR and Southern analysis.

[0175] Transformation of a CHD-DR cassette along with UBI::moPAT˜moGFP::pinII into a maize genotype such as Hi-II (or inbreds such as Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbreds N46 and P38) is also done using the Agrobacterium mediated DNA delivery method, as described by U.S. Pat. No. 5,981,840 with the following modifications. Again, it is noted that any suitable method of transformation can be used, such as particle-mediated transformation, as well as many other methods. Agrobacteria are grown to log phase in liquid minimal-A medium containing 100 μM spectinomycin. Embryos are immersed in a log phase suspension of Agrobacteria adjusted to obtain an effective concentration of 5×10⁸ cfu/ml. Embryos are infected for 5 minutes and then co-cultured on culture medium containing acetosyringone for 7 days at 20° C. in the dark. After 7 days, the embryos are transferred to standard culture medium (MS salts with N6 macronutrients, 1 mg/L 2,4-D, 1 mg/L Dicamba, 20 g/L sucrose, 0.6 g/L glucose, 1 mg/L silver nitrate, and 100 mg/L carbenicillin) with 3 mg/L Bialaphos® as the selective agent. Plates are maintained at 28° C. in the dark and are observed for colony recovery with transfers to fresh medium every two to three weeks. Positive lines are transferred to an MS-based medium with lower sucrose and hormone levels, to initiate plant regeneration. Following somatic embryo maturation (2-4 weeks), well-developed somatic embryos are transferred to medium for germination and transferred to the lighted culture room. Approximately 7-10 days later, developed plantlets are transferred to medium in tubes for 7-10 days until plantlets are well established. Plants are then transferred to inserts in flats (equivalent to 2.5″ pot) containing potting soil and grown for 1 week in a growth chamber, subsequently grown an additional 1-2 weeks in the greenhouse, then transferred to Classic™ 600 pots (1.6 gallon) and grown to maturity. Recovered colonies and plants are scored based on GFP visual expression, leaf painting sensitivity to a 1% application of Ignite® herbicide, and molecular characterization via PCR and Southern analysis.

[0176] A. Introducing CHD-DR to Improve Transformation Frequency Using Agrobacterium or Particle Bombardment.

[0177] Plasmids described in Example 4 are used to transform Hi-II immature embryos using particle delivery or the Agrobacterium. Bialaphos resistant GFP+ colonies are counted using a GFP microscope and transformation frequencies are determined (percentage of initial target embryos from which at least one GFP− expressing, bialaphos-resistant multicellular transformed event grows). In both particle gun experiments and Agrobacterium experiments, transformation frequencies are expected to increase with CHD treatment.

[0178] B. Down-Regulation of CHD to Improve the Embryogenic Phenotype and Regeneration Capacity of Inbreds.

[0179] Immature embryos from the inbred P38 are isolated, cultured and transformed as described above, with the following changes. Embryos are initially cultured on 601H medium (a MS based medium with 0.1 mg/l zeatin, 2 mg/l 2,4-D, MS and SH vitamins, proline, silver nitrate, extra potassium nitrate, casein hydrolysate, gelrite, 10 g/l glucose and 20 g/l sucrose). Prior to bombardment embryos are moved to a high osmoticum medium (modified Duncan's with 2 mg/l 2,4-D and 12% sucrose). Post bombardment, embryos are moved to 601H medium with 3 mg/l bialaphos for two weeks. Embryos are then moved to 601H medium without proline and casein hydrolysate with 3 mg/l bialaphos and transferred every two weeks. Transformation frequency is determined by counting the numbers of bialaphos-resistant GFP-positive colonies. Colonies are also scored on whether they have an embryogenic (regenerable) or non-embryogenic phenotype. Compared to the control treatment (UBI::moPAT˜moGFP::pinII alone), treatments including the marker cassette (UBI::moPAT—moGFP::pinII)+CHD-DR is expected to result in consistently higher transformation frequencies, the transformants having a more embryogenic callus phenotype and the frequency of successful regeneration from transformed callus should be substantially improved.

Example 5 Transient Suppression of the CHD Polynucleotide Product to Induce Somatic Embryogenesis

[0180] It may be desirable to “kick start” somatic embryogenesis by transiently expressing a CHD-DR polynucleotide product. This can be done by delivering CHD-DR 5′ capped polyadenylated RNA or expression cassettes containing CHD-DR DNA. These molecules can be delivered using a biolistics particle gun. For example 5′ capped polyadenyllated CHD-DR RNA can easily be made in vitro using Ambion's mMessage mMachine kit. Following the procedure outline above RNA is co-delivered along with DNA containing an agronomically useful expression cassette. The cells receiving the RNA will form somatic embryos and a large portion of these will have integrated the agronomic gene. Plants regenerated from these embryos can then be screened for the presence of the agronomic gene.

Example 6 Use of the Maize CHD to Induce Apomixis

[0181] Maize expression cassettes down-regulating CHD expression in the inner integument or nucellus can easily be constructed. An expression cassette directing expression of the CHD-DR polynucleotide to the nucellus is made using the barley Nuc1 promoter. Embryos are co-bombarded with the selectable marker PAT fused to the GFP gene (UBI::moPAT˜moGFP) along with the nucellus specific CHD-DR expression cassette described above. Both inbred (P38) and GS3 transformants are obtained and regenerated as described in examples 4.

[0182] It is expected that the regenerated plants will then be capable of producing de novo embryos from CHD-DR expressing nucellar cells. This is complemented by pollinating the ears to promote normal central cell fertilization and endosperm development. In another variation of this scheme, nuc1:CHD-DR transformations could be done using a FIE-null genetic background which would promote both de novo embryo development and endosperm development without fertilization (see Ohad et al. 1999 The Plant Cell 11:407-415; also pending U.S. application Serial No. 60/151575 filed Aug. 31, 1999). Upon microscopic examination of the developing embryos it will be apparent that apomixis has occurred by the presence of embryos budding off the nucellus. In yet another variation of this scheme the CHD-DR polynucleotide could be delivered as described above into a homozygous zygotic-embryo-lethal genotype. Only the adventive embryos produced from somatic nucellus tissue would develop in the seed.

Example 7 Expression of Chimeric Genes in Microbial Cells

[0183] The cDNAs encoding the instant transcription factors can be inserted into the T7 E. coli expression vector pBT430. This vector is a derivative of pET-3a (Rosenberg et al. (1987) Gene 56:125-135) which employs the bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase/T7 promoter system. Plasmid pBT430 was constructed by first destroying the EcoR I and Hind III sites in pET-3a at their original positions. An oligonucleotide adaptor containing EcoR I and Hind III sites was inserted at the BamH I site of pET-3a. This created pET-3aM with additional unique cloning sites for insertion of genes into the expression vector. Then, the Nde I site at the position of translation initiation was converted to an Nco I site using oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis. The DNA sequence of pET-3aM in this region, 5′-CATATGG, was converted to 5′-CCCATGG in pBT430.

[0184] Plasmid DNA containing a cDNA may be appropriately digested to release a nucleic acid fragment encoding the protein. This fragment may then be purified on a 1% NuSieve GTG™ low melting agarose gel (FMC). Buffer and agarose contain 10 μg/ml ethidium bromide for visualization of the DNA fragment. The fragment can then be purified from the agarose gel by digestion with GELaseTM (Epicentre Technologies) according to the manufacturer's instructions, ethanol precipitated, dried and resuspended in 20 μL of water. Appropriate oligonucleotide adapters may be ligated to the fragment using T4 DNA ligase (New England Biolabs, Beverly, Mass.). The fragment containing the ligated adapters can be purified from the excess adapters using low melting agarose as described above. The vector pBT430 is digested, dephosphorylated with alkaline phosphatase (NEB) and deproteinized with phenol/chloroform as described above. The prepared vector pBT430 and fragment can then be ligated at 16° C. for 15 hours followed by transformation into DH5 electrocompetent cells (GIBCO BRL). Transformants can be selected on agar plates containing LB media and 100 μg/mL ampicillin. Transformants containing the polynucleotide encoding the transcription factor are then screened for the correct orientation with respect to the T7 promoter by restriction enzyme analysis.

[0185] For high level expression, a plasmid clone with the cDNA insert in the correct orientation relative to the T7 promoter can be transformed into E. coli strain BL21(DE3) (Studier et al. (1986) J. Mol. Biol. 189:113-130). Cultures are grown in LB medium containing ampicillin (100 mg/L) at 25° C. At an optical density at 600 nm of approximately 11, IPTG (isopropylthio-β-galactoside, the inducer) can be added to a final concentration of 0.4 mM and incubation can be continued for 3 hours at 25° C. Cells are then harvested by centrifugation and re-suspended in 50 μL of 50 mM Tris-HCl at pH 8.0 containing 0.1 mM DTT and 0.2 mM phenyl methylsulfonyl fluoride. A small amount of 1 mm glass beads can be added and the mixture sonicated 3 times for about 5 seconds each time with a microprobe sonicator. The mixture is centrifuged and the protein concentration of the supernatant determined. One pg of protein from the soluble fraction of the culture can be separated by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Gels can be observed for protein bands migrating at the expected molecular weight.

Example 8

[0186] Evaluating Compounds for Their Ability to Inhibit the Activity of Plant Transcription Factors

[0187] The transcription factors described herein may be produced using any number of methods known to those skilled in the art. Such methods include, but are not limited to, expression in bacteria as described in Example 7, or expression in eukaryotic cell culture, in planta, and using viral expression systems in suitably infected organisms or cell lines. The instant transcription factors may be expressed either as mature forms of the proteins as observed in vivo or as fusion proteins by covalent attachment to a variety of enzymes, proteins or affinity tags. Common fusion protein partners include glutathione S-transferase (“GST”), thioredoxin (“Trx”), maltose binding protein, and C- and/or N-terminal hexahistidine polypeptide (“(His)₆”). The fusion proteins may be engineered with a protease recognition site at the fusion point so that fusion partners can be separated by protease digestion to yield intact mature enzyme. Examples of such proteases include thrombin, enterokinase and factor Xa. However, any protease can be used which specifically cleaves the peptide connecting the fusion protein and the enzyme.

[0188] Purification of the instant transcription factors, if desired, may utilize any number of separation technologies familiar to those skilled in the art of protein purification. Examples of such methods include, but are not limited to, homogenization, filtration, centrifugation, heat denaturation, ammonium sulfate precipitation, desalting, pH precipitation, ion exchange chromatography, hydrophobic interaction chromatography and affinity chromatography, wherein the affinity ligand represents a substrate, substrate analog or inhibitor. When the transcription factors are expressed as fusion proteins, the purification protocol may include the use of an affinity resin which is specific for the fusion protein tag attached to the expressed enzyme or an affinity resin containing ligands which are specific for the enzyme. For example, a transcription factor may be expressed as a fusion protein coupled to the C-terminus of thioredoxin. In addition, a (His)₆ peptide may be engineered into the N-terminus of the fused thioredoxin moiety to afford additional opportunities for affinity purification. Other suitable affinity resins could be synthesized by linking the appropriate ligands to any suitable resin such as Sepharose-4B. In an alternate embodiment, a thioredoxin fusion protein may be eluted using dithiothreitol; however, elution may be accomplished using other reagents which interact to displace the thioredoxin from the resin. These reagents include β-mercaptoethanol or other reduced thiol. The eluted fusion protein may be subjected to further purification by traditional means as stated above, if desired. Proteolytic cleavage of the thioredoxin fusion protein and the enzyme may be accomplished after the fusion protein is purified or while the protein is still bound to the ThioBond™ affinity resin or other resin.

[0189] Crude, partially purified or purified enzyme, either alone or as a fusion protein, may be utilized in assays for the evaluation of compounds for their ability to inhibit enzymatic activation of the transcription factors disclosed herein. Assays may be conducted under well-known experimental conditions that permit optimal enzymatic activity.

Example 9

[0190] CHD Down-Regulation to Increase Growth Rates, Which Could be used as a Screening Criterion for Positive Selection of Transformants.

[0191] Using two promoters of increasing strength to drive expression of CHD-DR cassettes in maize, it appears that CHD-DR stimulates callus growth over control treatments and the stronger promoter driving CHD-DR results in faster growth than with the low-level promoter. For example, an experiment is performed to compare the In2 and nos promoters. As noted above, based on our experience with these two promoters driving other genes, the In2 promoter (in the absence of an inducer other than auxin from the medium) would drive expression at very low levels. The nos promoter has been shown to drive moderately-low levels of transgene expression (approximately 10- to 30-fold lower than the maize ubiquitin promoter, but still stronger than In2 under the culture conditions used in this experiment). One control treatment is used in this experiment, the UBI:PAT˜GFPmo:pinII construct by itself (with no CHD-DR). Hi-II immature embryos are bombarded as previously described, and transgenic, growing events are scored at 3 and 6 weeks. The control treatment results in a typical transformation frequency, for example of 0.8%. The In2 and nos-driven CHD down-regulator treatments are expected to result in progressively higher transformation frequencies, for example 25 and 40%, respectively.

[0192] Within these treatments there is also expected an increase in the overall frequency of large, rapidly growing calli, relative to the control treatment. For this data, the fresh weight of transformed calli is recorded 2 months after bombardment. Assuming that all the transgenic events started as single transformed cells within a few days after bombardment, these weights represent the relative growth rate of these transformants during this period (all tissue is sub-cultured and weighed for each transformant; mean weights and standard deviations are calculated for each treatment). For the control treatment, the mean transformant weight after two months is expected to be 37+/−15 mg (n=6). For the In2:CHD-down-regulator and nos:CHD-down-regulator treatments, the mean transformant weights are expected to be 126+/−106 and 441+/−430 mg, respectively. If the control treatment is set at a relative growth value of 1.0, this means that transformants in the In2: CHD-down-regulator and nos: CHD-down-regulator treatments are expected to grow 3.4 and 12-fold faster than the control. Increasing CHD down regulation should result in a concomitant increase in callus growth rate.

Example 10 The Use of CHD Polynucleotide as a Positive Selection System for Wheat Transformation and for Improving the Regeneration Capacity of Wheat Tissues

[0193] Method

[0194] Plant Material

[0195] Seeds of wheat Hybrinova lines NH535 and BO 014 are sown into soil in plug trays for vernalisation at 6° C. for eight weeks. Vernalized seedlings are transferred in 8″ pots and grown in a controlled environment room. The growth conditions used are; 1) soil composition: 75% L&P fine-grade peat, 12% screened sterilized loam, 10% 6 mm screened, lime-free grit, 3% medium grade vermiculite, 3.5 kg Osmocote per m³ soil (slow-release fertilizer, 15-11-13 NPK plus micronutrients), 0.5 kg PG mix per m³(14-16-18 NPK granular fertilizer plus micronutrients, 2)16 h photoperiod (400W sodium lamps providing irradiance of ca. 750 μE s⁻¹ m⁻²), 18 to 20° C. day and 14 to 16° C. night temperature, 50 to 70% relative air humidity and 3) pest control: sulfur spray every 4 to 6 weeks and biological control of thrips using Amblyseius caliginosus (Novartis BCM Ltd, UK).

[0196] Isolation of Explants and Culture Initiation

[0197] Two sources of primary explants are used; scutellar and inflorescence tissues. For scutella, early-medium milk stage grains containing immature translucent embryos are harvested and surface-sterilized in 70% ethanol for 5 min. and 0.5% hypochlorite solution for 15-30 min. For inflorescences, tillers containing 0.5-1.0 cm inflorescences are harvested by cutting below the inflorescence-bearing node (the second node of a tiller). The tillers are trimmed to approximately 8-10 cm length and surface-sterilized as above with the upper end sealed with Nescofilm (Bando Chemical Ind. Ltd, Japan).

[0198] Under aseptic conditions, embryos of approximately 0.5-1.0 mm length are isolated and the eirnbryo axis removed. Inflorescences are dissected from the tillers and cut into approximately 1 mm pieces. Thirty scutella or 1 mm inflorescence explants are placed in the center (18 mm target circle) of a 90 mm Petri dish containing MD0.5 or L7D2 culture medium. Embryos are placed with the embryo-axis side in contact with the medium exposing the scutellum to bombardment whereas inflorescence pieces are placed randomly. Cultures are incubated at 25±° C. in darkness for approximately 24 h before bombardment. After bombardment, explants from each bombarded plate are spread across three plates for callus induction.

[0199] Culture Media

[0200] The standard callus induction medium for scutellar tissues (MD0.5) consists of solidified (0.5% Agargel, Sigma A3301) modified MS medium supplemented with 9% sucrose, 10 mg I⁻¹ AgNO₃ and 0.5 mg I⁻¹ 2,4-D (Rasco-Gaunt et al., 1999). Inflorescence tissues are cultured on L7D2 which consists of solidified (0.5% Agargel) L3 medium supplemented with 9% maltose and 2 mg I⁻¹ 2,4-D (Rasco-Gaunt and Barcelo, 1999). The basal shoot induction medium, RZ contains L salts, vitamins and inositol, 3% w/v maltose, 0.1 mg I^(−1 2,4)-D and 5 mg I⁻¹ zeatin (Rasco-Gaunt and Barcelo, 1999). Regenerated plantlets are maintained in RO medium with the same composition as RZ, but without 2,4-D and zeatin.

[0201] DNA Precipitation Procedure and Particle Bombardment

[0202] Submicron gold particles (0.6 μm Micron Gold, Bio-Rad) are coated with a plasmid containing a CHD-DR construct following the protocol modified from the original Bio-Rad procedure (Barcelo and Lazzeri, 1995). The standard precipitation mixture consists of 1 mg of gold particles in 50 μl SDW, 50 μl of 2.5 M calcium chloride, 20 μl of 100 mM spermidine free base and 5 μl DNA (concentration 1 μg μl⁻¹). After combining the components, the mixture is vortexed and the supernatant discarded. The particles are then washed with 150 μl absolute ethanol and finally resuspended in 85 μl absolute ethanol. The DNA/gold ethanol solution is kept on ice to minimize ethanol evaporation. For each bombardment, 5 pμl of DNA/gold ethanol solution (ca. 60 μg gold) is loaded onto the macrocarrier.

[0203] Particle bombardments are carried out using DuPont PDS 1000/He gun with a target distance of 5.5 cm from the stopping plate at 650 psi acceleration pressure and 28 in. Hg chamber vacuum pressure.

[0204] Regeneration of Transformants

[0205] For callus induction, bombarded explants are distributed over the surface of the medium in the original dish and two other dishes and cultured at 25±1° C. in darkness for three weeks. Development of somatic embryos from each callus are periodically recorded. For shoot induction, calluses are transferred to RZ medium and cultured under 12 h light (250 μE s⁻¹ m², from cool white fluorescent tubes) at 25±1° C. for three weeks for two rounds. All plants regenerating from the same callus are noted. Plants growing more vigorously than the control cultures are potted in soil after 6-9 weeks in RO medium. The plantlets are acclimatized in a propagator for 1-2 weeks. Thereafter, the plants are grown to maturity under growth conditions described above.

[0206] DNA Isolation from Callus and Leaf Tissues

[0207] Genomic DNA as extracted from calluses or leaves using a modification of the CTAB (cetyltriethylammonium bromide, Sigma H5882) method described by Stacey and Isaac cite (1994). Approximately 100-200 mg of frozen tissues is ground into powder in liquid nitrogen and homogenized in 1 ml of CTAB extraction buffer (2% CTAB, 0.02 M EDTA, 0.1 M Tris-Cl pH 8,1.4 M NaCl, 25 mM DTT) for 30 min at 65° C. Homogenized samples are allowed to cool at room temperature for 15 min before a single protein extraction with approximately 1 ml 24:1 v/v chloroform:octanol is done. Samples are centrifuged for 7 min at 13,000 rpm and the upper layer of supernatant collected using wide-mouthed pipette tips. DNA is precipitated from the supernatant by incubation in 95% ethanol on ice for 1 h. DNA threads are spooled onto a glass hook, washed in 75% ethanol containing 0.2 M sodium acetate for 10 min, air-dried for 5 min and resuspended in TE buffer. Five μl RNAse A is added to the samples and incubated at 37° C. for 1 h.

[0208] For quantification of genomic DNA, gel electrophoresis is performed using an 0.8% agarose gel in 1× TBE buffer. One microliter of the samples are fractionated alongside 200, 400, 600 and 800 ng μl⁻¹ λ uncut DNA markers.

[0209] Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Analysis

[0210] The presence of the maize CHD-DR polynucleotide is analyzed by PCR using 100-200 ng template DNA in a 30 ml PCR reaction mixture containing 1× concentration enzyme buffer (10 mM Tris-HCl pH 8.8, 1.5 mM magnesium chloride, 50 mM potassium chloride, 0.1% Triton X-100), 200 μM dNTPs, 0.3 μM primers and 0.022 U TaqDNA polymerase (Boehringer Mannheim). Thermocycling conditions are as follows (30 cycles): denaturation at 95° C. for 30 s, annealing at 55° C. for 1 min and extension at 72° C. for 1 min.

[0211] After particle-mediated delivery of either a UBI::PAT˜GFPmo::pinII construct alone (control treatment), or the UBI::PAT˜GFPmo::pinII+CHD-DR, in the treatments containing the CDH-DR construct there should be a higher frequency of embryogenic transformants recovered and the regeneration capacity of these transformants should be substantially improved over the control treatment. In addition, in the CDH-DR treatment the frequency of escape colonies should be reduced.

Example 11 Expression of Chimeric Genes in Dicot Cells

[0212] The CHD-DR polynucleotide can also be used to improve the transformation of soybean To demonstrate this the construct consisting of the In2 promoter and CHD-DR sequence are introduced into embryogenic suspension cultures of soybean by particle bombardment using essentially the methods described in Parrott, W. A., L. M. Hoffman, D. F. Hildebrand, E. G. Williams, and G. B. Collins, (1989) Recovery of primary transformants of soybean, Plant Cell Rep. 7:615-617. This method with modifications is described below.

[0213] Seed is removed from pods when the cotyledons are between 3 and 5 mm in length. The seeds are sterilized in a Chlorox solution (0.5%) for 15 minutes after which time the seeds are rinsed with sterile distilled water. The immature cotyledons are excised by first excising the portion of the seed that contains the embryo axis. The cotyledons are then removed from the seed coat by gently pushing the distal end of the seed with the blunt end of the scalpel blade. The cotyledons are then placed (flat side up) SB1 initiation medium (MS salts, B5 vitamins, 20 mg/L 2,4-D, 31.5 g/l sucrose, 8 g/L TC Agar, pH 5.8). The Petri plates are incubated in the light (16 hr day; 75-80 μE) at 26° C. After 4 weeks of incubation the cotyledons are transferred to fresh SB1 medium. After an additional two weeks, globular stage somatic embryos that exhibit proliferative areas are excised and transferred to FN Lite liquid medium (Samoylov, V. M., D. M. Tucker, and W. A. Parrott (1998) Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] embryogenic cultures: the role of sucrose and total nitrogen content on proliferation. In Vitro Cell Dev. Biol. Plant 34:8-13). About 10 to 12 small clusters of somatic embryos are placed in 250 ml flasks containing 35 ml of SB172 medium. The soybean embryogenic suspension cultures are maintained in 35 mL liquid media on a rotary shaker, 150 rpm, at 26° C. with florescent lights (20 μE) on a 16:8 hour day/night schedule. Cultures are sub-cultured every two weeks by inoculating approximately 35 mg of tissue into 35 mL of liquid medium.

[0214] Soybean embryogenic suspension cultures are then transformed using particle gun bombardment (Klein et al. (1987) Nature (London) 327:70, U.S. Pat. No. 4,945,050). A BioRad Biolistic™ PDS1000/HE instrument is used for these transformations. A selectable marker gene which is used to facilitate soybean transformation is a chimeric gene composed of the 35S promoter from Cauliflower Mosaic Virus (Odell et al. (1985) Nature 313:810-812), the hygromycin phosphotransferase gene from plasmid pJR225 (from E. coli; Gritz et al. (1983) Gene 25:179-188) and the 3′ region of the nopaline synthase gene from the T-DNA of the Ti plasmid of Agrobacterium tumefaciens.

[0215] To 50 μL of a 60 mg/mL 1 μm gold particle suspension is added (in order): 5 μL DNA (1 μg/μL), 20 μl spermidine (0.1 M), and 50 μL CaCl₂ (2.5 M). The particle preparation is agitated for three minutes, spun in a microfuge for 10 seconds and the supernatant removed. The DNA-coated particles are washed once in 400 μL 70% ethanol and resuspended in 40 μL of anhydrous ethanol. The DNA/particle suspension is sonicated three times for one second each. Five μL of the DNA-coated gold particles are then loaded on each macro carrier disk.

[0216] Approximately 300-400 mg of a two-week-old suspension culture is placed in an empty 60×15 mm petri dish and the residual liquid removed from the tissue with a pipette. Membrane rupture pressure is set at 1100 psi and the chamber is evacuated to a vacuum of 28 inches mercury. The tissue is placed approximately 8 cm away from the retaining screen, and is bombarded three times. Following bombardment, the tissue is divided in half and placed back into 35 ml of FN Lite medium.

[0217] Five to seven days after bombardment, the liquid medium is exchanged with fresh medium. Eleven days post bombardment the medium is exchanged with fresh medium containing 50 mg/mL hygromycin. This selective medium is refreshed weekly. Seven to eight weeks post bombardment, green, transformed tissue is observed growing from untransformed, necrotic embryogenic clusters. Isolated green tissue is removed and inoculated into individual flasks to generate new, clonally propagated, transformed embryogenic suspension cultures. Each new line is treated as an independent transformation event. These suspensions are then subcultured and maintained as clusters of immature embryos, or tissue is regenerated into whole plants by maturation and germination of individual embryos. Two different genotypes are used in these experiments: 92B91 and 93B82. Samples of tissue are either bombarded with the hygromycin resistance gene alone or with a 1:1 mixture of the hygromycin resistance gene and the CHD-DR construct. Embryogenic cultures generated from 92B91 generally produce transformation events while cultures from 93B82 are much more difficult to transform. For both genotypes, the CHD-DR construct resulted in increased transformation frequencies.

Example 12 Use of Antibodies Raised Against CHD to Transiently Stimulate Embryogenesis and Enhance Transformation

[0218] Antibodies directed against CHD can also be used to mitigate CHD's activity, thus stimulating somatic embryogenic growth. Genes encoding single chain antibodies expressed behind a suitable promoter, for example the ubiquitin promoter, could be used in such a fashion. Transient expression of an anti-CHD antibody could temporarily disrupt normal CHD function and thus stimulate somatic embryogenic growth. Alternatively, antibodies raised against CHD could be purified and used for direct introduction into maize cells. The antibody is introduced into maize cells using physical methods such as microinjection, bombardment, electroporation or silica fiber methods.

[0219] Alternatively, single chain anti-CHD is delivered from Agrobacterium tumefaciens into plant cells in the form of fusions to Agrobacterium virulence proteins (see co-pending applications U.S. Ser. No. 09/316,914 filed May 19, 1999 and Ser. No. 09/570,319 filed May 12, 2000). Fusions are constructed between the anti-CHD single chain antibody and bacterial virulence proteins such as VirE2, VirD2, or VirF which are known to be delivered directly into plant cells. Fusion's are constructed to retain both those properties of bacterial virulence proteins required to mediate delivery into plant cells and the anti-CHD activity required for stimulating somatic embryogenic growth and enhancing transformation. This method ensures a high frequency of simultaneous co-delivery of T-DNA and functional anti-CHD protein into the same host cell. Direct delivery of anti-CHD antibodies using physical methods such as particle bombardment can also be used to inhibit CHD activity and transiently stimulate somatic embryogenic growth.

Example 13 Use Dominant-Negative Mutagenized CHD Gene to Transiently Stimulate Embryogenesis and Enhance Transformation

[0220] Using directed mutagenesis to disrupt critical functional domains within the CHD gene will create a dominant negative mutant. For example, single amino-acid changes in the helicase/ATPase motifs IV and VI will abolish ATPase function in this protein. In Arabidopsis, the nucleotide sequence can be modified to encode an altered amino-acid sequence, either changing LLRRVKK to LLRKVKK or changing AMARAHR to AMAKAHR. In either amino-acid stretch, changing the central arginine to a lysine or alanine residue completely destroys ATPase function in this protein. These sequences tend to be highly conserved, so altering the maize gene (or any other plant CHD gene) should have a similar effect. When such an altered CHD gene is over-expressed in the plant cell, it acts as a dominant-negative resulting in a reduction of endogenous CHD activity (and in some cases can result in essentially down-regulating CHD to the point where there is no activity).

[0221] Deletion or domain swapping techniques can also be employed to create a dominant negative mutant. For example, one of the transcriptional repression activities of CHD is achieved through deacetylation of histones. In mammalian system, CHD3/CHD4 binds to histone deacetylase through zinc-finger motif that is present in the N-terminal of the protein. Deletion of the zinc-finger motif, i.e. CQACGESTNLVSCNTCTYAFHAKCL of Arabidopsis CHD3, in this protein will change the accessibility to the histones and result in a reduction of the nucleosome remodeling activity of this protein and lead to a release of the transgenic cell from transcriptional repression.

[0222] Transient overexpression of such a dominant-negative CHD construct will result in depressed CHD activity in the transiently expressing plant cells. Genes and/or pathways normally suppressed by CHD will be transiently activated. Such a stimulation in cells receiving the foreign DNA will result in increased growth, and in species such as corn in which growth of transgenic cell clusters relative to wild-type (non-transformed) cells can be limiting, this growth stimulation will translate into increased recovery of transformants (i.e. increased transformation frequency).

Example 14 Increase of Oil Content in Crop Seed by Co-Suppression of CHD Gene

[0223] Expression cassettes suppressing CHD expression in seeds can easily be constructed. For example, maize oleosin promoter, or gamma-zein promoter can be used to co-suppress CHD in seed only. Transgenic seeds can be obtained by either Agrobacteria transformation or particle gun methods as discussed above. Repression of CHD expression in seed will lead to expression of many embryonic genes and change the cell differentiation. This may increase oil accumulation in endosperm or increase embryo size. Oil content in embryo and endosperm can be determined easily by hexane extraction.

0 SEQUENCE LISTING <160> NUMBER OF SEQ ID NOS: 41 <210> SEQ ID NO 1 <211> LENGTH: 1874 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Zea mays <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: CDS <222> LOCATION: (3)...(1656) <400> SEQUENCE: 1 ac gag aat gat gaa tct cgc caa att cat tat gac gaa gct gca att 47 Glu Asn Asp Glu Ser Arg Gln Ile His Tyr Asp Glu Ala Ala Ile 1 5 10 15 gag agg ttg tta gac cgt gat caa gtt gac ggt gat gaa tct gtg gaa 95 Glu Arg Leu Leu Asp Arg Asp Gln Val Asp Gly Asp Glu Ser Val Glu 20 25 30 gat gaa gaa gaa gat gga ttc tta aaa gga ttc aag gtt gca aac ttt 143 Asp Glu Glu Glu Asp Gly Phe Leu Lys Gly Phe Lys Val Ala Asn Phe 35 40 45 gaa tat atc gat gag gca aag gct cag gca gaa aaa gag gag gca cgg 191 Glu Tyr Ile Asp Glu Ala Lys Ala Gln Ala Glu Lys Glu Glu Ala Arg 50 55 60 aga aag gct gca gct gag gct gaa aat tct gaa aga aac tac tgg gat 239 Arg Lys Ala Ala Ala Glu Ala Glu Asn Ser Glu Arg Asn Tyr Trp Asp 65 70 75 gaa cta ttg aag gat aga tat gat gta cag aaa gtt gaa gaa cat act 287 Glu Leu Leu Lys Asp Arg Tyr Asp Val Gln Lys Val Glu Glu His Thr 80 85 90 95 gct atg gga aaa ggg aaa aga agc cgc aaa cag atg gct gcc gct gat 335 Ala Met Gly Lys Gly Lys Arg Ser Arg Lys Gln Met Ala Ala Ala Asp 100 105 110 gaa gat gac att cat gat tta agt tcc gaa gat gag gat tac tca ttg 383 Glu Asp Asp Ile His Asp Leu Ser Ser Glu Asp Glu Asp Tyr Ser Leu 115 120 125 gag gat gac att tca gat aat gac aca agt ttg caa gga aat att tct 431 Glu Asp Asp Ile Ser Asp Asn Asp Thr Ser Leu Gln Gly Asn Ile Ser 130 135 140 ggg aag agg gga caa tat tct aag aga aaa tca cgt aat gtt gat tct 479 Gly Lys Arg Gly Gln Tyr Ser Lys Arg Lys Ser Arg Asn Val Asp Ser 145 150 155 att cca ttg atg gag ggc gaa gga cgt acc ttg aga gtt ctt gga ttc 527 Ile Pro Leu Met Glu Gly Glu Gly Arg Thr Leu Arg Val Leu Gly Phe 160 165 170 175 aac cat gct caa cga gca atg ttc cta cag aca ctc aat aga ttc ggt 575 Asn His Ala Gln Arg Ala Met Phe Leu Gln Thr Leu Asn Arg Phe Gly 180 185 190 ttt cag aat tat gac tgg aaa gag tat ctt cct cgt ctt aaa gga aaa 623 Phe Gln Asn Tyr Asp Trp Lys Glu Tyr Leu Pro Arg Leu Lys Gly Lys 195 200 205 agt gtc gag gaa atc cag aga tat gct gaa ctt gtc atg gca cat ctt 671 Ser Val Glu Glu Ile Gln Arg Tyr Ala Glu Leu Val Met Ala His Leu 210 215 220 gtt gaa gaa att aat gat tct gac tat ttt tca gat ggc gtt cca aag 719 Val Glu Glu Ile Asn Asp Ser Asp Tyr Phe Ser Asp Gly Val Pro Lys 225 230 235 gaa atg atg cgt gtt gat gat gta cta gtc agg ata gca aac ata tcc 767 Glu Met Met Arg Val Asp Asp Val Leu Val Arg Ile Ala Asn Ile Ser 240 245 250 255 ctt atc gag gag aag atg gct gcc aca gga cca gga aaa att aca aac 815 Leu Ile Glu Glu Lys Met Ala Ala Thr Gly Pro Gly Lys Ile Thr Asn 260 265 270 att ttt cct aat tac ttg ctc tat gag ttc caa ggc tta tct ggt gga 863 Ile Phe Pro Asn Tyr Leu Leu Tyr Glu Phe Gln Gly Leu Ser Gly Gly 275 280 285 aga ata tgg aaa gcg gag cat gat cta ctg tta ctg aga ggc ata ctg 911 Arg Ile Trp Lys Ala Glu His Asp Leu Leu Leu Leu Arg Gly Ile Leu 290 295 300 aag cat gga tat gca agg tgg cag tat ata tca gat gac aga gag aat 959 Lys His Gly Tyr Ala Arg Trp Gln Tyr Ile Ser Asp Asp Arg Glu Asn 305 310 315 ggg ctt ttt gag gct gca cga cga gag ctg cat ctc cct tcg gtt aat 1007 Gly Leu Phe Glu Ala Ala Arg Arg Glu Leu His Leu Pro Ser Val Asn 320 325 330 335 gaa ata att ggt gct cag ttg aac gag gca aat ggg aat ttg gaa ggt 1055 Glu Ile Ile Gly Ala Gln Leu Asn Glu Ala Asn Gly Asn Leu Glu Gly 340 345 350 gca cag gaa ggc caa gcg aac aca aca agc atg tcg cat tac aag gag 1103 Ala Gln Glu Gly Gln Ala Asn Thr Thr Ser Met Ser His Tyr Lys Glu 355 360 365 atc cag aga aag ata gtt gag ttc ttg aga aag aga tat cat ctt atg 1151 Ile Gln Arg Lys Ile Val Glu Phe Leu Arg Lys Arg Tyr His Leu Met 370 375 380 gag aga gcc ttg aat ctg gaa tat gct gtg ata aag aaa aaa att cct 1199 Glu Arg Ala Leu Asn Leu Glu Tyr Ala Val Ile Lys Lys Lys Ile Pro 385 390 395 gtt cct gat gat att act gaa caa ggt gtt cca gca gga cat gct ccg 1247 Val Pro Asp Asp Ile Thr Glu Gln Gly Val Pro Ala Gly His Ala Pro 400 405 410 415 ctt att cca gat atc agt gaa ctg ttg cgg gaa ttg ccc aat ctt gag 1295 Leu Ile Pro Asp Ile Ser Glu Leu Leu Arg Glu Leu Pro Asn Leu Glu 420 425 430 cca att tct acc aat gaa ttg att tct gag ggc aca gct ggt cag tta 1343 Pro Ile Ser Thr Asn Glu Leu Ile Ser Glu Gly Thr Ala Gly Gln Leu 435 440 445 caa gtt ccc cat ctc tac aat aag atg tgt gga gtg ctt gaa gag agt 1391 Gln Val Pro His Leu Tyr Asn Lys Met Cys Gly Val Leu Glu Glu Ser 450 455 460 ggt gct tat gcg ctc agt tcc ttc ttt gga gac aag tcc gca tct tct 1439 Gly Ala Tyr Ala Leu Ser Ser Phe Phe Gly Asp Lys Ser Ala Ser Ser 465 470 475 act ttg gcc aat agc ctt cga cag ttt gaa act gtg tgt gag aat gtc 1487 Thr Leu Ala Asn Ser Leu Arg Gln Phe Glu Thr Val Cys Glu Asn Val 480 485 490 495 gtc gag gcc tta cga cca cac caa aat ggt act gcc agt gcc atc aaa 1535 Val Glu Ala Leu Arg Pro His Gln Asn Gly Thr Ala Ser Ala Ile Lys 500 505 510 gag gaa ttg gta gat gca gcc acc aaa gca gca gca gca gca gct cct 1583 Glu Glu Leu Val Asp Ala Ala Thr Lys Ala Ala Ala Ala Ala Ala Pro 515 520 525 caa caa gat tca ggc cat gat gca ccg cat ggg cag tct tcg aca gcc 1631 Gln Gln Asp Ser Gly His Asp Ala Pro His Gly Gln Ser Ser Thr Ala 530 535 540 aag gcg gac atg gaa atc gat ggt t gatttgtagg ttccagagtg 1676 Lys Ala Asp Met Glu Ile Asp Gly 545 550 gcaagaaagg gaatcccctc taatcattat gtatactgtg gtcagaatgt ccgctatata 1736 ttgtaacatc aaagaaagca cctccaggcc tgagggtgtt actgctaatg cgtttggttt 1796 acttgtcctt gtaatatgca tacacattta gaactcatgc agccattgtg tgaaaaaaaa 1856 aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaa 1874 <210> SEQ ID NO 2 <211> LENGTH: 551 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Zea mays <400> SEQUENCE: 2 Glu Asn Asp Glu Ser Arg Gln Ile His Tyr Asp Glu Ala Ala Ile Glu 1 5 10 15 Arg Leu Leu Asp Arg Asp Gln Val Asp Gly Asp Glu Ser Val Glu Asp 20 25 30 Glu Glu Glu Asp Gly Phe Leu Lys Gly Phe Lys Val Ala Asn Phe Glu 35 40 45 Tyr Ile Asp Glu Ala Lys Ala Gln Ala Glu Lys Glu Glu Ala Arg Arg 50 55 60 Lys Ala Ala Ala Glu Ala Glu Asn Ser Glu Arg Asn Tyr Trp Asp Glu 65 70 75 80 Leu Leu Lys Asp Arg Tyr Asp Val Gln Lys Val Glu Glu His Thr Ala 85 90 95 Met Gly Lys Gly Lys Arg Ser Arg Lys Gln Met Ala Ala Ala Asp Glu 100 105 110 Asp Asp Ile His Asp Leu Ser Ser Glu Asp Glu Asp Tyr Ser Leu Glu 115 120 125 Asp Asp Ile Ser Asp Asn Asp Thr Ser Leu Gln Gly Asn Ile Ser Gly 130 135 140 Lys Arg Gly Gln Tyr Ser Lys Arg Lys Ser Arg Asn Val Asp Ser Ile 145 150 155 160 Pro Leu Met Glu Gly Glu Gly Arg Thr Leu Arg Val Leu Gly Phe Asn 165 170 175 His Ala Gln Arg Ala Met Phe Leu Gln Thr Leu Asn Arg Phe Gly Phe 180 185 190 Gln Asn Tyr Asp Trp Lys Glu Tyr Leu Pro Arg Leu Lys Gly Lys Ser 195 200 205 Val Glu Glu Ile Gln Arg Tyr Ala Glu Leu Val Met Ala His Leu Val 210 215 220 Glu Glu Ile Asn Asp Ser Asp Tyr Phe Ser Asp Gly Val Pro Lys Glu 225 230 235 240 Met Met Arg Val Asp Asp Val Leu Val Arg Ile Ala Asn Ile Ser Leu 245 250 255 Ile Glu Glu Lys Met Ala Ala Thr Gly Pro Gly Lys Ile Thr Asn Ile 260 265 270 Phe Pro Asn Tyr Leu Leu Tyr Glu Phe Gln Gly Leu Ser Gly Gly Arg 275 280 285 Ile Trp Lys Ala Glu His Asp Leu Leu Leu Leu Arg Gly Ile Leu Lys 290 295 300 His Gly Tyr Ala Arg Trp Gln Tyr Ile Ser Asp Asp Arg Glu Asn Gly 305 310 315 320 Leu Phe Glu Ala Ala Arg Arg Glu Leu His Leu Pro Ser Val Asn Glu 325 330 335 Ile Ile Gly Ala Gln Leu Asn Glu Ala Asn Gly Asn Leu Glu Gly Ala 340 345 350 Gln Glu Gly Gln Ala Asn Thr Thr Ser Met Ser His Tyr Lys Glu Ile 355 360 365 Gln Arg Lys Ile Val Glu Phe Leu Arg Lys Arg Tyr His Leu Met Glu 370 375 380 Arg Ala Leu Asn Leu Glu Tyr Ala Val Ile Lys Lys Lys Ile Pro Val 385 390 395 400 Pro Asp Asp Ile Thr Glu Gln Gly Val Pro Ala Gly His Ala Pro Leu 405 410 415 Ile Pro Asp Ile Ser Glu Leu Leu Arg Glu Leu Pro Asn Leu Glu Pro 420 425 430 Ile Ser Thr Asn Glu Leu Ile Ser Glu Gly Thr Ala Gly Gln Leu Gln 435 440 445 Val Pro His Leu Tyr Asn Lys Met Cys Gly Val Leu Glu Glu Ser Gly 450 455 460 Ala Tyr Ala Leu Ser Ser Phe Phe Gly Asp Lys Ser Ala Ser Ser Thr 465 470 475 480 Leu Ala Asn Ser Leu Arg Gln Phe Glu Thr Val Cys Glu Asn Val Val 485 490 495 Glu Ala Leu Arg Pro His Gln Asn Gly Thr Ala Ser Ala Ile Lys Glu 500 505 510 Glu Leu Val Asp Ala Ala Thr Lys Ala Ala Ala Ala Ala Ala Pro Gln 515 520 525 Gln Asp Ser Gly His Asp Ala Pro His Gly Gln Ser Ser Thr Ala Lys 530 535 540 Ala Asp Met Glu Ile Asp Gly 545 550 <210> SEQ ID NO 3 <211> LENGTH: 21 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: primer_bind <222> LOCATION: (1)...(21) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: primer <400> SEQUENCE: 3 acgagaatga tgaatctcgc c 21 <210> SEQ ID NO 4 <211> LENGTH: 23 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: primer_bind <222> LOCATION: (1)...(23) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: primer <400> SEQUENCE: 4 tcaaccatcg atttccatgt ccg 23 <210> SEQ ID NO 5 <211> LENGTH: 297 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Zea mays <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT <222> LOCATION: (1)...(425) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Xaa = Any Amino Acid <400> SEQUENCE: 5 Met Leu Leu Arg Arg Leu Arg Ala Glu Gly His Arg Val Leu Leu Phe 1 5 10 15 Ala Gln Met Thr Lys Met Leu Asp Ile Leu Glu Asp Tyr Met Asn Phe 20 25 30 Arg Lys Phe Lys Tyr Phe Arg Leu Asp Gly Ser Ser Ala Ile Ser Asp 35 40 45 Arg Arg Asp Met Val Arg Asp Phe Gln Asn Arg Asn Asp Ile Phe Val 50 55 60 Phe Leu Leu Ser Thr Arg Ala Gly Gly Leu Gly Ile Asn Leu Thr Ala 65 70 75 80 Ala Asp Thr Val Ile Phe Tyr Glu Ile Asp Trp Asn Pro Thr Gln Asp 85 90 95 Gln Gln Ala Met Asp Arg Thr His Arg Leu Gly Gln Thr Lys Glu Val 100 105 110 Thr Val Tyr Arg Leu Ile Cys Lys Asp Thr Ile Glu Glu Lys Ile Leu 115 120 125 Gln Arg Ala Lys Gln Lys Asn Ala Val Gln Glu Leu Val Met Lys Gly 130 135 140 Lys His Val Gln Asp Asp His Leu Met Arg Gln Glu Asp Val Val Ser 145 150 155 160 Leu Leu Ile Asp Asp Thr Gln Ile Ala His Lys Leu Lys Glu Ile Ser 165 170 175 Met Gln Ala Lys Asp Arg Gln Lys Arg Arg Arg Ala Lys Gly Ile Lys 180 185 190 Val Asp Lys Glu Gly Asp Leu Thr Leu Glu Asp Leu Asp Asp Ala Thr 195 200 205 Ala Glu Ala Val Asp Gln Asp Lys Thr Thr Ser Lys Lys Lys Lys Ser 210 215 220 Ser His Lys Lys His Thr Asn Thr His Asp Asn Asp Asn Ile Asp Lys 225 230 235 240 Asn Gly Glu Ala Asp Val Gly Asp His Pro Gly Ser Ser Asn Thr Glu 245 250 255 Asn Glu Gln Met Pro Glu Ser Arg Pro Lys Arg Ser Lys Arg Leu Met 260 265 270 Lys Ser Ile Thr Asp Asp Lys Glu Leu Ala Ala Ala Ala Asp His Glu 275 280 285 Lys Pro Val Asn Glu Ala Glu Asn His 290 295 <210> SEQ ID NO 6 <211> LENGTH: 22 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: primer_bind <222> LOCATION: (1)...(22) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: primer <400> SEQUENCE: 6 aagctccaca ccttggatat gc 22 <210> SEQ ID NO 7 <211> LENGTH: 23 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: primer_bind <222> LOCATION: (1)...(23) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: primer <400> SEQUENCE: 7 tcatgggctc agtgattttc cgc 23 <210> SEQ ID NO 8 <211> LENGTH: 1913 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Zea mays <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: CDS <222> LOCATION: (3)...(1913) <400> SEQUENCE: 8 ca cac tta ata att gct cca aaa gca gta tta cca aat tgg tct aac 47 His Leu Ile Ile Ala Pro Lys Ala Val Leu Pro Asn Trp Ser Asn 1 5 10 15 gaa ttc aaa acc tgg gct ccc agt att ggg aca att ctg tat gat ggt 95 Glu Phe Lys Thr Trp Ala Pro Ser Ile Gly Thr Ile Leu Tyr Asp Gly 20 25 30 cgt cca gaa gag agg aag ctt tta agg gaa aag aat ttt gat gga ttg 143 Arg Pro Glu Glu Arg Lys Leu Leu Arg Glu Lys Asn Phe Asp Gly Leu 35 40 45 caa ttt aat gtt ttg ctc acg cat tat gac ttg ata ctg aaa gat aag 191 Gln Phe Asn Val Leu Leu Thr His Tyr Asp Leu Ile Leu Lys Asp Lys 50 55 60 aag ttc cta aag aaa gtt cac tgg cat tat ttg att gtt gat gaa gga 239 Lys Phe Leu Lys Lys Val His Trp His Tyr Leu Ile Val Asp Glu Gly 65 70 75 cat cgt ctg aaa aat cat gaa tgt gct ctt gct cgc aca cta gtt tca 287 His Arg Leu Lys Asn His Glu Cys Ala Leu Ala Arg Thr Leu Val Ser 80 85 90 95 gga tat cag atc cgc cgc aga cta ctt tta act ggc act cca atc caa 335 Gly Tyr Gln Ile Arg Arg Arg Leu Leu Leu Thr Gly Thr Pro Ile Gln 100 105 110 aat agc cta caa gaa ctg tgg tct ttg ctt aac ttt att ctg ccc aat 383 Asn Ser Leu Gln Glu Leu Trp Ser Leu Leu Asn Phe Ile Leu Pro Asn 115 120 125 att ttt aat tca tct cag aat ttt gag gaa tgg ttt aat gca cca ttt 431 Ile Phe Asn Ser Ser Gln Asn Phe Glu Glu Trp Phe Asn Ala Pro Phe 130 135 140 gca tgt gat gtt agt ctt aat gat gag gaa cag cta tta atc ata cat 479 Ala Cys Asp Val Ser Leu Asn Asp Glu Glu Gln Leu Leu Ile Ile His 145 150 155 cgt ctg cat caa gtt ttg cgt cca ttt ttg ctg agg agg aaa aaa gat 527 Arg Leu His Gln Val Leu Arg Pro Phe Leu Leu Arg Arg Lys Lys Asp 160 165 170 175 gaa gtg gaa aaa tat ctc cct gtc aaa aca caa gta att ctc aag tgt 575 Glu Val Glu Lys Tyr Leu Pro Val Lys Thr Gln Val Ile Leu Lys Cys 180 185 190 gat atg tct gct tgg caa aaa gca tac tat gaa caa gtc aca agc agg 623 Asp Met Ser Ala Trp Gln Lys Ala Tyr Tyr Glu Gln Val Thr Ser Arg 195 200 205 gaa aag gtt gca cta gga ttt ggg ctc aga tca aag gct ctg cag aat 671 Glu Lys Val Ala Leu Gly Phe Gly Leu Arg Ser Lys Ala Leu Gln Asn 210 215 220 ctg tca atg caa ctt agg aaa tgt tgc aac cac ccc tat cta ttt gta 719 Leu Ser Met Gln Leu Arg Lys Cys Cys Asn His Pro Tyr Leu Phe Val 225 230 235 gag cac tac aac atg tac cag cgg gag gaa att gtt aga gca tca ggg 767 Glu His Tyr Asn Met Tyr Gln Arg Glu Glu Ile Val Arg Ala Ser Gly 240 245 250 255 aag ttt gaa ttg ctt gat cgt cta ctt cca aaa ctg cag aga gct ggt 815 Lys Phe Glu Leu Leu Asp Arg Leu Leu Pro Lys Leu Gln Arg Ala Gly 260 265 270 cac agg gtt ctg ctt ttc tct cag atg acg aaa ctg ctt gat gtt tta 863 His Arg Val Leu Leu Phe Ser Gln Met Thr Lys Leu Leu Asp Val Leu 275 280 285 gaa ata tat ttg caa atg tac aat ttc aag tac atg agg ctt gat gga 911 Glu Ile Tyr Leu Gln Met Tyr Asn Phe Lys Tyr Met Arg Leu Asp Gly 290 295 300 tcc acg aag act gaa gaa cga ggg agg tta ctg gca gat ttt aat aag 959 Ser Thr Lys Thr Glu Glu Arg Gly Arg Leu Leu Ala Asp Phe Asn Lys 305 310 315 aag gat tcg gaa tat ttc atg ttt ctc ctc agc aca cgt gct gga gga 1007 Lys Asp Ser Glu Tyr Phe Met Phe Leu Leu Ser Thr Arg Ala Gly Gly 320 325 330 335 ctt ggg ttg aac ttg cag acg gcg gac act gtc att ata ttt gat agt 1055 Leu Gly Leu Asn Leu Gln Thr Ala Asp Thr Val Ile Ile Phe Asp Ser 340 345 350 gac tgg aac cct caa atg gac caa caa gct gaa gac cgt gcc cat cgt 1103 Asp Trp Asn Pro Gln Met Asp Gln Gln Ala Glu Asp Arg Ala His Arg 355 360 365 ata ggc aga aga atg aag tgc gtg tgt ttg ttc ttg tta gtg tcg gct 1151 Ile Gly Arg Arg Met Lys Cys Val Cys Leu Phe Leu Leu Val Ser Ala 370 375 380 cca ttg aag aag aga tcc tgg acc gtg caa aac aaa aga tgg gta tcg 1199 Pro Leu Lys Lys Arg Ser Trp Thr Val Gln Asn Lys Arg Trp Val Ser 385 390 395 atg caa aag tta ctc cag gct ggg ttg ttt aac aca act tcc aca gca 1247 Met Gln Lys Leu Leu Gln Ala Gly Leu Phe Asn Thr Thr Ser Thr Ala 400 405 410 415 cag gac aga cga gca ttg ctg cag gag atc ctt agg agg ggg aca agc 1295 Gln Asp Arg Arg Ala Leu Leu Gln Glu Ile Leu Arg Arg Gly Thr Ser 420 425 430 tcg ctg gga aca gat atc ccc agt gag cgc gag ata aat cgt ttg gct 1343 Ser Leu Gly Thr Asp Ile Pro Ser Glu Arg Glu Ile Asn Arg Leu Ala 435 440 445 gca cga act gat gaa gaa ttc tgg ttg ttt gag aag atg gat gaa gaa 1391 Ala Arg Thr Asp Glu Glu Phe Trp Leu Phe Glu Lys Met Asp Glu Glu 450 455 460 agg agg ctt aga gaa aac tac aaa tct aga ctt atg gat ggg aat gag 1439 Arg Arg Leu Arg Glu Asn Tyr Lys Ser Arg Leu Met Asp Gly Asn Glu 465 470 475 gtt cca gat tgg gta ttc gcc aac aat gat tta ccc aag aga acc gtg 1487 Val Pro Asp Trp Val Phe Ala Asn Asn Asp Leu Pro Lys Arg Thr Val 480 485 490 495 gca gat gag ttc cag aat ata atg gtc ggt gcg aag cga cgt aga aag 1535 Ala Asp Glu Phe Gln Asn Ile Met Val Gly Ala Lys Arg Arg Arg Lys 500 505 510 gag gtt gtc tat tca gac tct ttc ggt gat cag tgg atg aaa tcc gat 1583 Glu Val Val Tyr Ser Asp Ser Phe Gly Asp Gln Trp Met Lys Ser Asp 515 520 525 gag gga ttt gaa gac att cca aag gcg act cag agg tcg aag aag act 1631 Glu Gly Phe Glu Asp Ile Pro Lys Ala Thr Gln Arg Ser Lys Lys Thr 530 535 540 gct tac tca tct gac atc caa gtt gag ttt agt gaa agg agg aaa aga 1679 Ala Tyr Ser Ser Asp Ile Gln Val Glu Phe Ser Glu Arg Arg Lys Arg 545 550 555 cct agg tct gta gaa aac agc gca gac ggt gtg agc aac ccg acg tgg 1727 Pro Arg Ser Val Glu Asn Ser Ala Asp Gly Val Ser Asn Pro Thr Trp 560 565 570 575 acg cct gac aaa gga agg gct gga gtt tca tca tac agc aag gac gag 1775 Thr Pro Asp Lys Gly Arg Ala Gly Val Ser Ser Tyr Ser Lys Asp Glu 580 585 590 act gaa gat gat ggc gaa gac gaa gtc att act agc ggc tta caa aag 1823 Thr Glu Asp Asp Gly Glu Asp Glu Val Ile Thr Ser Gly Leu Gln Lys 595 600 605 gga aac agt ttc aca tgg aat acc cta gga aga aga agg tca agc cac 1871 Gly Asn Ser Phe Thr Trp Asn Thr Leu Gly Arg Arg Arg Ser Ser His 610 615 620 ttc agt tcg tca tcg gac tcg aga ggg cgc cca aca ttc taa 1913 Phe Ser Ser Ser Ser Asp Ser Arg Gly Arg Pro Thr Phe * 625 630 635 <210> SEQ ID NO 9 <211> LENGTH: 636 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Zea mays <400> SEQUENCE: 9 His Leu Ile Ile Ala Pro Lys Ala Val Leu Pro Asn Trp Ser Asn Glu 1 5 10 15 Phe Lys Thr Trp Ala Pro Ser Ile Gly Thr Ile Leu Tyr Asp Gly Arg 20 25 30 Pro Glu Glu Arg Lys Leu Leu Arg Glu Lys Asn Phe Asp Gly Leu Gln 35 40 45 Phe Asn Val Leu Leu Thr His Tyr Asp Leu Ile Leu Lys Asp Lys Lys 50 55 60 Phe Leu Lys Lys Val His Trp His Tyr Leu Ile Val Asp Glu Gly His 65 70 75 80 Arg Leu Lys Asn His Glu Cys Ala Leu Ala Arg Thr Leu Val Ser Gly 85 90 95 Tyr Gln Ile Arg Arg Arg Leu Leu Leu Thr Gly Thr Pro Ile Gln Asn 100 105 110 Ser Leu Gln Glu Leu Trp Ser Leu Leu Asn Phe Ile Leu Pro Asn Ile 115 120 125 Phe Asn Ser Ser Gln Asn Phe Glu Glu Trp Phe Asn Ala Pro Phe Ala 130 135 140 Cys Asp Val Ser Leu Asn Asp Glu Glu Gln Leu Leu Ile Ile His Arg 145 150 155 160 Leu His Gln Val Leu Arg Pro Phe Leu Leu Arg Arg Lys Lys Asp Glu 165 170 175 Val Glu Lys Tyr Leu Pro Val Lys Thr Gln Val Ile Leu Lys Cys Asp 180 185 190 Met Ser Ala Trp Gln Lys Ala Tyr Tyr Glu Gln Val Thr Ser Arg Glu 195 200 205 Lys Val Ala Leu Gly Phe Gly Leu Arg Ser Lys Ala Leu Gln Asn Leu 210 215 220 Ser Met Gln Leu Arg Lys Cys Cys Asn His Pro Tyr Leu Phe Val Glu 225 230 235 240 His Tyr Asn Met Tyr Gln Arg Glu Glu Ile Val Arg Ala Ser Gly Lys 245 250 255 Phe Glu Leu Leu Asp Arg Leu Leu Pro Lys Leu Gln Arg Ala Gly His 260 265 270 Arg Val Leu Leu Phe Ser Gln Met Thr Lys Leu Leu Asp Val Leu Glu 275 280 285 Ile Tyr Leu Gln Met Tyr Asn Phe Lys Tyr Met Arg Leu Asp Gly Ser 290 295 300 Thr Lys Thr Glu Glu Arg Gly Arg Leu Leu Ala Asp Phe Asn Lys Lys 305 310 315 320 Asp Ser Glu Tyr Phe Met Phe Leu Leu Ser Thr Arg Ala Gly Gly Leu 325 330 335 Gly Leu Asn Leu Gln Thr Ala Asp Thr Val Ile Ile Phe Asp Ser Asp 340 345 350 Trp Asn Pro Gln Met Asp Gln Gln Ala Glu Asp Arg Ala His Arg Ile 355 360 365 Gly Arg Arg Met Lys Cys Val Cys Leu Phe Leu Leu Val Ser Ala Pro 370 375 380 Leu Lys Lys Arg Ser Trp Thr Val Gln Asn Lys Arg Trp Val Ser Met 385 390 395 400 Gln Lys Leu Leu Gln Ala Gly Leu Phe Asn Thr Thr Ser Thr Ala Gln 405 410 415 Asp Arg Arg Ala Leu Leu Gln Glu Ile Leu Arg Arg Gly Thr Ser Ser 420 425 430 Leu Gly Thr Asp Ile Pro Ser Glu Arg Glu Ile Asn Arg Leu Ala Ala 435 440 445 Arg Thr Asp Glu Glu Phe Trp Leu Phe Glu Lys Met Asp Glu Glu Arg 450 455 460 Arg Leu Arg Glu Asn Tyr Lys Ser Arg Leu Met Asp Gly Asn Glu Val 465 470 475 480 Pro Asp Trp Val Phe Ala Asn Asn Asp Leu Pro Lys Arg Thr Val Ala 485 490 495 Asp Glu Phe Gln Asn Ile Met Val Gly Ala Lys Arg Arg Arg Lys Glu 500 505 510 Val Val Tyr Ser Asp Ser Phe Gly Asp Gln Trp Met Lys Ser Asp Glu 515 520 525 Gly Phe Glu Asp Ile Pro Lys Ala Thr Gln Arg Ser Lys Lys Thr Ala 530 535 540 Tyr Ser Ser Asp Ile Gln Val Glu Phe Ser Glu Arg Arg Lys Arg Pro 545 550 555 560 Arg Ser Val Glu Asn Ser Ala Asp Gly Val Ser Asn Pro Thr Trp Thr 565 570 575 Pro Asp Lys Gly Arg Ala Gly Val Ser Ser Tyr Ser Lys Asp Glu Thr 580 585 590 Glu Asp Asp Gly Glu Asp Glu Val Ile Thr Ser Gly Leu Gln Lys Gly 595 600 605 Asn Ser Phe Thr Trp Asn Thr Leu Gly Arg Arg Arg Ser Ser His Phe 610 615 620 Ser Ser Ser Ser Asp Ser Arg Gly Arg Pro Thr Phe 625 630 635 <210> SEQ ID NO 10 <211> LENGTH: 23 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: primer_bind <222> LOCATION: (1)...(23) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: primer <400> SEQUENCE: 10 cgaattcaaa acctgggctc cca 23 <210> SEQ ID NO 11 <211> LENGTH: 21 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: primer_bind <222> LOCATION: (1)...(21) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: primer <400> SEQUENCE: 11 ttagaatgtt gggcgccctc t 21 <210> SEQ ID NO 12 <211> LENGTH: 1463 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Zea mays <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: CDS <222> LOCATION: (3)...(1463) <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <222> LOCATION: (1)...(1463) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: n = A,T,C or G <400> SEQUENCE: 12 gt cga ccc acg cgt ccg cca gaa gag cgg aac cat ata agg gac aat 47 Arg Pro Thr Arg Pro Pro Glu Glu Arg Asn His Ile Arg Asp Asn 1 5 10 15 ttg ctg caa cct ggg aaa ttt gat gtg tgt gtg act agt ttt gaa atg 95 Leu Leu Gln Pro Gly Lys Phe Asp Val Cys Val Thr Ser Phe Glu Met 20 25 30 gca atc aaa gaa aaa tct gcg ttg agg cgc ttc agc tgg cgc tac ata 143 Ala Ile Lys Glu Lys Ser Ala Leu Arg Arg Phe Ser Trp Arg Tyr Ile 35 40 45 atc att gat gaa gct cac cgg ata aaa aat gaa aat tct ctt cta tca 191 Ile Ile Asp Glu Ala His Arg Ile Lys Asn Glu Asn Ser Leu Leu Ser 50 55 60 aag act atg agg att tac aac act aat tat cgt ctc ctc atc aca ggc 239 Lys Thr Met Arg Ile Tyr Asn Thr Asn Tyr Arg Leu Leu Ile Thr Gly 65 70 75 act cca ctc cag aat aat ctc cat gag ctc tgg gct ctc ctc aat ttc 287 Thr Pro Leu Gln Asn Asn Leu His Glu Leu Trp Ala Leu Leu Asn Phe 80 85 90 95 ttg cta cct gaa ata ttt agc tct gcg gag acc ttt gat gaa tgg ttt 335 Leu Leu Pro Glu Ile Phe Ser Ser Ala Glu Thr Phe Asp Glu Trp Phe 100 105 110 caa ata tct ggg gaa aat gat caa cag gag gtg gtg cag cag ctt cat 383 Gln Ile Ser Gly Glu Asn Asp Gln Gln Glu Val Val Gln Gln Leu His 115 120 125 aag gtt ctt cgc cca ttc ctt ctt agg agg ctc aag tct gat gta naa 431 Lys Val Leu Arg Pro Phe Leu Leu Arg Arg Leu Lys Ser Asp Val Xaa 130 135 140 aag ggc cta cct cca aag aaa gaa aca att ctt aaa gtt gga atg tct 479 Lys Gly Leu Pro Pro Lys Lys Glu Thr Ile Leu Lys Val Gly Met Ser 145 150 155 cag atg caa aag cag tac tat cgt gct ctg ctt cag aag gat ttg gag 527 Gln Met Gln Lys Gln Tyr Tyr Arg Ala Leu Leu Gln Lys Asp Leu Glu 160 165 170 175 gtt att aat gct ggt ggt gaa cgc aag cga ttg ctt aac att gcc atg 575 Val Ile Asn Ala Gly Gly Glu Arg Lys Arg Leu Leu Asn Ile Ala Met 180 185 190 cag ttg cgc aag tgc tgc aac cat cca tat tta ttc caa gga gct gaa 623 Gln Leu Arg Lys Cys Cys Asn His Pro Tyr Leu Phe Gln Gly Ala Glu 195 200 205 cct ggg cca ccc tac aca act ggt gaa cat cta att gag aat gca gga 671 Pro Gly Pro Pro Tyr Thr Thr Gly Glu His Leu Ile Glu Asn Ala Gly 210 215 220 aaa atg gtt cta ctt gat aaa ttg ctg ccc aag cta aag gag cgt gat 719 Lys Met Val Leu Leu Asp Lys Leu Leu Pro Lys Leu Lys Glu Arg Asp 225 230 235 tcc aga gtc ctt att ttt tca cag atg acc agg ctt ttg gat atc ttg 767 Ser Arg Val Leu Ile Phe Ser Gln Met Thr Arg Leu Leu Asp Ile Leu 240 245 250 255 gaa gat tat ctt atg tat agg gga tat cag tat tgt cga att gat gga 815 Glu Asp Tyr Leu Met Tyr Arg Gly Tyr Gln Tyr Cys Arg Ile Asp Gly 260 265 270 aat aca ggt gga gaa gat cgt gat gca tcc att gaa gcc ttc aat agt 863 Asn Thr Gly Gly Glu Asp Arg Asp Ala Ser Ile Glu Ala Phe Asn Ser 275 280 285 cca gga agt gag aag ttt gtt ttc tta ctt tca act agg gca ggt ggc 911 Pro Gly Ser Glu Lys Phe Val Phe Leu Leu Ser Thr Arg Ala Gly Gly 290 295 300 ctt ggt atc aac ttg gcc act gct gat gtt gtg gtt ctc tat gac agc 959 Leu Gly Ile Asn Leu Ala Thr Ala Asp Val Val Val Leu Tyr Asp Ser 305 310 315 gat tgg aat ccc caa gct gat ctg caa gct cag gac cgt gca cat aga 1007 Asp Trp Asn Pro Gln Ala Asp Leu Gln Ala Gln Asp Arg Ala His Arg 320 325 330 335 ata ggt caa aaa gaa aga agt tca agt gtt ccg ctt ttg cac ttg agt 1055 Ile Gly Gln Lys Glu Arg Ser Ser Ser Val Pro Leu Leu His Leu Ser 340 345 350 tca act att gag gaa aag gtg att gag aga gca tat aag aag cta gca 1103 Ser Thr Ile Glu Glu Lys Val Ile Glu Arg Ala Tyr Lys Lys Leu Ala 355 360 365 ttg gat gct ttg gtt att cag caa gga cga ttg gca gag cag aaa act 1151 Leu Asp Ala Leu Val Ile Gln Gln Gly Arg Leu Ala Glu Gln Lys Thr 370 375 380 gtc aat aag gat gat ctt ctg caa atg gtg cgg ttt ggt gct gaa atg 1199 Val Asn Lys Asp Asp Leu Leu Gln Met Val Arg Phe Gly Ala Glu Met 385 390 395 gtt ttc agt tct aag gac agc aca ata act gat gag gac att gac cgt 1247 Val Phe Ser Ser Lys Asp Ser Thr Ile Thr Asp Glu Asp Ile Asp Arg 400 405 410 415 att ata gct aaa gga gag gag aca aca gca gaa ctt gat gcg aaa atg 1295 Ile Ile Ala Lys Gly Glu Glu Thr Thr Ala Glu Leu Asp Ala Lys Met 420 425 430 aaa aag ttc act gag gat gcc atc aaa ttt aag atg gat gat aat gct 1343 Lys Lys Phe Thr Glu Asp Ala Ile Lys Phe Lys Met Asp Asp Asn Ala 435 440 445 gaa ttg tat gac ttc gat gat gag aag gat gaa aac aag gtt gat ttc 1391 Glu Leu Tyr Asp Phe Asp Asp Glu Lys Asp Glu Asn Lys Val Asp Phe 450 455 460 aag aaa ctt gtt agt gat aac tgg att gag cca cct aga aga gaa agg 1439 Lys Lys Leu Val Ser Asp Asn Trp Ile Glu Pro Pro Arg Arg Glu Arg 465 470 475 aag nga aac tac tct gag tct tga 1463 Lys Xaa Asn Tyr Ser Glu Ser * 480 485 <210> SEQ ID NO 13 <211> LENGTH: 486 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Zea mays <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT <222> LOCATION: (1)...(486) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Xaa = Any Amino Acid <400> SEQUENCE: 13 Arg Pro Thr Arg Pro Pro Glu Glu Arg Asn His Ile Arg Asp Asn Leu 1 5 10 15 Leu Gln Pro Gly Lys Phe Asp Val Cys Val Thr Ser Phe Glu Met Ala 20 25 30 Ile Lys Glu Lys Ser Ala Leu Arg Arg Phe Ser Trp Arg Tyr Ile Ile 35 40 45 Ile Asp Glu Ala His Arg Ile Lys Asn Glu Asn Ser Leu Leu Ser Lys 50 55 60 Thr Met Arg Ile Tyr Asn Thr Asn Tyr Arg Leu Leu Ile Thr Gly Thr 65 70 75 80 Pro Leu Gln Asn Asn Leu His Glu Leu Trp Ala Leu Leu Asn Phe Leu 85 90 95 Leu Pro Glu Ile Phe Ser Ser Ala Glu Thr Phe Asp Glu Trp Phe Gln 100 105 110 Ile Ser Gly Glu Asn Asp Gln Gln Glu Val Val Gln Gln Leu His Lys 115 120 125 Val Leu Arg Pro Phe Leu Leu Arg Arg Leu Lys Ser Asp Val Xaa Lys 130 135 140 Gly Leu Pro Pro Lys Lys Glu Thr Ile Leu Lys Val Gly Met Ser Gln 145 150 155 160 Met Gln Lys Gln Tyr Tyr Arg Ala Leu Leu Gln Lys Asp Leu Glu Val 165 170 175 Ile Asn Ala Gly Gly Glu Arg Lys Arg Leu Leu Asn Ile Ala Met Gln 180 185 190 Leu Arg Lys Cys Cys Asn His Pro Tyr Leu Phe Gln Gly Ala Glu Pro 195 200 205 Gly Pro Pro Tyr Thr Thr Gly Glu His Leu Ile Glu Asn Ala Gly Lys 210 215 220 Met Val Leu Leu Asp Lys Leu Leu Pro Lys Leu Lys Glu Arg Asp Ser 225 230 235 240 Arg Val Leu Ile Phe Ser Gln Met Thr Arg Leu Leu Asp Ile Leu Glu 245 250 255 Asp Tyr Leu Met Tyr Arg Gly Tyr Gln Tyr Cys Arg Ile Asp Gly Asn 260 265 270 Thr Gly Gly Glu Asp Arg Asp Ala Ser Ile Glu Ala Phe Asn Ser Pro 275 280 285 Gly Ser Glu Lys Phe Val Phe Leu Leu Ser Thr Arg Ala Gly Gly Leu 290 295 300 Gly Ile Asn Leu Ala Thr Ala Asp Val Val Val Leu Tyr Asp Ser Asp 305 310 315 320 Trp Asn Pro Gln Ala Asp Leu Gln Ala Gln Asp Arg Ala His Arg Ile 325 330 335 Gly Gln Lys Glu Arg Ser Ser Ser Val Pro Leu Leu His Leu Ser Ser 340 345 350 Thr Ile Glu Glu Lys Val Ile Glu Arg Ala Tyr Lys Lys Leu Ala Leu 355 360 365 Asp Ala Leu Val Ile Gln Gln Gly Arg Leu Ala Glu Gln Lys Thr Val 370 375 380 Asn Lys Asp Asp Leu Leu Gln Met Val Arg Phe Gly Ala Glu Met Val 385 390 395 400 Phe Ser Ser Lys Asp Ser Thr Ile Thr Asp Glu Asp Ile Asp Arg Ile 405 410 415 Ile Ala Lys Gly Glu Glu Thr Thr Ala Glu Leu Asp Ala Lys Met Lys 420 425 430 Lys Phe Thr Glu Asp Ala Ile Lys Phe Lys Met Asp Asp Asn Ala Glu 435 440 445 Leu Tyr Asp Phe Asp Asp Glu Lys Asp Glu Asn Lys Val Asp Phe Lys 450 455 460 Lys Leu Val Ser Asp Asn Trp Ile Glu Pro Pro Arg Arg Glu Arg Lys 465 470 475 480 Xaa Asn Tyr Ser Glu Ser 485 <210> SEQ ID NO 14 <211> LENGTH: 23 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: primer_bind <222> LOCATION: (1)...(23) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: primer <400> SEQUENCE: 14 ccagaagagc ggaaccatat aag 23 <210> SEQ ID NO 15 <211> LENGTH: 23 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: primer_bind <222> LOCATION: (1)...(23) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: primer <400> SEQUENCE: 15 ctcttctagg tggctcaatc cag 23 <210> SEQ ID NO 16 <211> LENGTH: 1645 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Zea mays <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: CDS <222> LOCATION: (2)...(1645) <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <222> LOCATION: (1)...(1645) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: n = A,T,C or G <400> SEQUENCE: 16 a gca gat ggg aga aga tac atg atc cgc cgg aga cta ctt tta aca ggc 49 Ala Asp Gly Arg Arg Tyr Met Ile Arg Arg Arg Leu Leu Leu Thr Gly 1 5 10 15 act cct atc caa aac agc ctg caa gag ctc tgg tct ttg ctt aac ttc 97 Thr Pro Ile Gln Asn Ser Leu Gln Glu Leu Trp Ser Leu Leu Asn Phe 20 25 30 atc ctg ccc aat att ttt aat tca tcc cag aat ttt gag gaa tgg ttt 145 Ile Leu Pro Asn Ile Phe Asn Ser Ser Gln Asn Phe Glu Glu Trp Phe 35 40 45 aat gca cca ttt gca tgt gat gtc agt ctt aat gat gag gaa caa cta 193 Asn Ala Pro Phe Ala Cys Asp Val Ser Leu Asn Asp Glu Glu Gln Leu 50 55 60 cta atc ata cat cgt ttg cat caa gtt ttg cgt cca ttc ttg ctg agg 241 Leu Ile Ile His Arg Leu His Gln Val Leu Arg Pro Phe Leu Leu Arg 65 70 75 80 agg aag aaa gat gaa gta nag aaa tat ctc cct gtg aaa aca caa gta 289 Arg Lys Lys Asp Glu Val Xaa Lys Tyr Leu Pro Val Lys Thr Gln Val 85 90 95 att ctc aag tgt gac atg tct gct tgg caa aaa gca tac tac gaa caa 337 Ile Leu Lys Cys Asp Met Ser Ala Trp Gln Lys Ala Tyr Tyr Glu Gln 100 105 110 gtc aca agc agg gaa aag gtt gcg cta gga tat ggg atc aga aag aag 385 Val Thr Ser Arg Glu Lys Val Ala Leu Gly Tyr Gly Ile Arg Lys Lys 115 120 125 gct ctg caa aat ctg tca atg caa ctt agg aag tgt tgc aat cat ccc 433 Ala Leu Gln Asn Leu Ser Met Gln Leu Arg Lys Cys Cys Asn His Pro 130 135 140 tac cta ttc gta gag cat tat aac atg tac caa cgg gag gaa ata gtt 481 Tyr Leu Phe Val Glu His Tyr Asn Met Tyr Gln Arg Glu Glu Ile Val 145 150 155 160 aga gca tcc gga aag ttt gaa ttg ctt gat cgt cta ctt ccg aaa ttg 529 Arg Ala Ser Gly Lys Phe Glu Leu Leu Asp Arg Leu Leu Pro Lys Leu 165 170 175 cag aga gct ggt cac agg gtt tta ctt ttc tct cag atg aca aaa ttg 577 Gln Arg Ala Gly His Arg Val Leu Leu Phe Ser Gln Met Thr Lys Leu 180 185 190 ctt gac gtt tta gaa ata tat ttg cag atg tac aat ttc aag tac atg 625 Leu Asp Val Leu Glu Ile Tyr Leu Gln Met Tyr Asn Phe Lys Tyr Met 195 200 205 agg ctt gat gga tcc aca aag act gaa gaa cgt ggg agg tta ctg gca 673 Arg Leu Asp Gly Ser Thr Lys Thr Glu Glu Arg Gly Arg Leu Leu Ala 210 215 220 gat ttt aat aag aag aat tca gaa tat ttc atg ttt ctt ctc agc aca 721 Asp Phe Asn Lys Lys Asn Ser Glu Tyr Phe Met Phe Leu Leu Ser Thr 225 230 235 240 cga gcc gga ggt ctt gga ttg aac ttg cag act gca gac acc gtc att 769 Arg Ala Gly Gly Leu Gly Leu Asn Leu Gln Thr Ala Asp Thr Val Ile 245 250 255 atc ttt gat agt gac tgg aac cct cag atg gac caa caa gct gag gac 817 Ile Phe Asp Ser Asp Trp Asn Pro Gln Met Asp Gln Gln Ala Glu Asp 260 265 270 cgt gcc cat cgt ata ggg caa aag aac gaa gta cgt gtg ttt gtt ctt 865 Arg Ala His Arg Ile Gly Gln Lys Asn Glu Val Arg Val Phe Val Leu 275 280 285 gtt agc gtt ggt tca att gaa gaa gag ata ttg gat cgt gcg aaa cag 913 Val Ser Val Gly Ser Ile Glu Glu Glu Ile Leu Asp Arg Ala Lys Gln 290 295 300 aag atg ggt att gat gca aaa gta atc cag gct ggg ttg ttt aac acg 961 Lys Met Gly Ile Asp Ala Lys Val Ile Gln Ala Gly Leu Phe Asn Thr 305 310 315 320 acc tcc aca gca cag gac agg cga gca ttg ctg cag gag ata ctc agg 1009 Thr Ser Thr Ala Gln Asp Arg Arg Ala Leu Leu Gln Glu Ile Leu Arg 325 330 335 aga gga aca agc tca ctg gga acg gat atc ccc agt gaa cgt gag ata 1057 Arg Gly Thr Ser Ser Leu Gly Thr Asp Ile Pro Ser Glu Arg Glu Ile 340 345 350 aac cgc ttg gct gct cga aac gat gaa gaa ttc cgg ttg ttt gag aag 1105 Asn Arg Leu Ala Ala Arg Asn Asp Glu Glu Phe Arg Leu Phe Glu Lys 355 360 365 atg gat gaa gaa agg agg cta aag gag aac tac aaa tct aga ctt atg 1153 Met Asp Glu Glu Arg Arg Leu Lys Glu Asn Tyr Lys Ser Arg Leu Met 370 375 380 gat gga aat gag gtc cca gat tgg gtg ttt gcc aat gat aat gaa acc 1201 Asp Gly Asn Glu Val Pro Asp Trp Val Phe Ala Asn Asp Asn Glu Thr 385 390 395 400 tta cgc aag aaa acc gtg gca gat gaa ttc cgg aat ata att gtt ggt 1249 Leu Arg Lys Lys Thr Val Ala Asp Glu Phe Arg Asn Ile Ile Val Gly 405 410 415 tca aag aga cgt aga aag gag gtt gtc tat tcg gac tct ttt ggt gat 1297 Ser Lys Arg Arg Arg Lys Glu Val Val Tyr Ser Asp Ser Phe Gly Asp 420 425 430 cag tgg atg aaa tcc gac gag gga ttt gaa gag att gca aag atg act 1345 Gln Trp Met Lys Ser Asp Glu Gly Phe Glu Glu Ile Ala Lys Met Thr 435 440 445 cca agg gtg aag cga act gct tat tcg cct gac att caa gtt gag tac 1393 Pro Arg Val Lys Arg Thr Ala Tyr Ser Pro Asp Ile Gln Val Glu Tyr 450 455 460 aat gaa agg agg aaa agg ccc aag tct gtg gaa aac agc gca gat ggc 1441 Asn Glu Arg Arg Lys Arg Pro Lys Ser Val Glu Asn Ser Ala Asp Gly 465 470 475 480 gca agc aac cca aca cgg aca ccc gac aaa gga agg gct gga gtt tca 1489 Ala Ser Asn Pro Thr Arg Thr Pro Asp Lys Gly Arg Ala Gly Val Ser 485 490 495 tca tac agc aag gat gag acc gaa gat gat ggt gaa gac gaa gtc atc 1537 Ser Tyr Ser Lys Asp Glu Thr Glu Asp Asp Gly Glu Asp Glu Val Ile 500 505 510 acc agt ggc tta cag aag ggt aac agt ttc aca tgg aag acc ctt gga 1585 Thr Ser Gly Leu Gln Lys Gly Asn Ser Phe Thr Trp Lys Thr Leu Gly 515 520 525 aga aaa agg tca agc cac tta agt tcg tcg tcg gac tca aaa ggg cga 1633 Arg Lys Arg Ser Ser His Leu Ser Ser Ser Ser Asp Ser Lys Gly Arg 530 535 540 cca tca ttc taa 1645 Pro Ser Phe * 545 <210> SEQ ID NO 17 <211> LENGTH: 547 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Zea mays <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT <222> LOCATION: (1)...(547) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Xaa = Any Amino Acid <400> SEQUENCE: 17 Ala Asp Gly Arg Arg Tyr Met Ile Arg Arg Arg Leu Leu Leu Thr Gly 1 5 10 15 Thr Pro Ile Gln Asn Ser Leu Gln Glu Leu Trp Ser Leu Leu Asn Phe 20 25 30 Ile Leu Pro Asn Ile Phe Asn Ser Ser Gln Asn Phe Glu Glu Trp Phe 35 40 45 Asn Ala Pro Phe Ala Cys Asp Val Ser Leu Asn Asp Glu Glu Gln Leu 50 55 60 Leu Ile Ile His Arg Leu His Gln Val Leu Arg Pro Phe Leu Leu Arg 65 70 75 80 Arg Lys Lys Asp Glu Val Xaa Lys Tyr Leu Pro Val Lys Thr Gln Val 85 90 95 Ile Leu Lys Cys Asp Met Ser Ala Trp Gln Lys Ala Tyr Tyr Glu Gln 100 105 110 Val Thr Ser Arg Glu Lys Val Ala Leu Gly Tyr Gly Ile Arg Lys Lys 115 120 125 Ala Leu Gln Asn Leu Ser Met Gln Leu Arg Lys Cys Cys Asn His Pro 130 135 140 Tyr Leu Phe Val Glu His Tyr Asn Met Tyr Gln Arg Glu Glu Ile Val 145 150 155 160 Arg Ala Ser Gly Lys Phe Glu Leu Leu Asp Arg Leu Leu Pro Lys Leu 165 170 175 Gln Arg Ala Gly His Arg Val Leu Leu Phe Ser Gln Met Thr Lys Leu 180 185 190 Leu Asp Val Leu Glu Ile Tyr Leu Gln Met Tyr Asn Phe Lys Tyr Met 195 200 205 Arg Leu Asp Gly Ser Thr Lys Thr Glu Glu Arg Gly Arg Leu Leu Ala 210 215 220 Asp Phe Asn Lys Lys Asn Ser Glu Tyr Phe Met Phe Leu Leu Ser Thr 225 230 235 240 Arg Ala Gly Gly Leu Gly Leu Asn Leu Gln Thr Ala Asp Thr Val Ile 245 250 255 Ile Phe Asp Ser Asp Trp Asn Pro Gln Met Asp Gln Gln Ala Glu Asp 260 265 270 Arg Ala His Arg Ile Gly Gln Lys Asn Glu Val Arg Val Phe Val Leu 275 280 285 Val Ser Val Gly Ser Ile Glu Glu Glu Ile Leu Asp Arg Ala Lys Gln 290 295 300 Lys Met Gly Ile Asp Ala Lys Val Ile Gln Ala Gly Leu Phe Asn Thr 305 310 315 320 Thr Ser Thr Ala Gln Asp Arg Arg Ala Leu Leu Gln Glu Ile Leu Arg 325 330 335 Arg Gly Thr Ser Ser Leu Gly Thr Asp Ile Pro Ser Glu Arg Glu Ile 340 345 350 Asn Arg Leu Ala Ala Arg Asn Asp Glu Glu Phe Arg Leu Phe Glu Lys 355 360 365 Met Asp Glu Glu Arg Arg Leu Lys Glu Asn Tyr Lys Ser Arg Leu Met 370 375 380 Asp Gly Asn Glu Val Pro Asp Trp Val Phe Ala Asn Asp Asn Glu Thr 385 390 395 400 Leu Arg Lys Lys Thr Val Ala Asp Glu Phe Arg Asn Ile Ile Val Gly 405 410 415 Ser Lys Arg Arg Arg Lys Glu Val Val Tyr Ser Asp Ser Phe Gly Asp 420 425 430 Gln Trp Met Lys Ser Asp Glu Gly Phe Glu Glu Ile Ala Lys Met Thr 435 440 445 Pro Arg Val Lys Arg Thr Ala Tyr Ser Pro Asp Ile Gln Val Glu Tyr 450 455 460 Asn Glu Arg Arg Lys Arg Pro Lys Ser Val Glu Asn Ser Ala Asp Gly 465 470 475 480 Ala Ser Asn Pro Thr Arg Thr Pro Asp Lys Gly Arg Ala Gly Val Ser 485 490 495 Ser Tyr Ser Lys Asp Glu Thr Glu Asp Asp Gly Glu Asp Glu Val Ile 500 505 510 Thr Ser Gly Leu Gln Lys Gly Asn Ser Phe Thr Trp Lys Thr Leu Gly 515 520 525 Arg Lys Arg Ser Ser His Leu Ser Ser Ser Ser Asp Ser Lys Gly Arg 530 535 540 Pro Ser Phe 545 <210> SEQ ID NO 18 <211> LENGTH: 23 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: primer_bind <222> LOCATION: (1)...(23) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: primer <400> SEQUENCE: 18 acaggcactc ctatccaaaa cag 23 <210> SEQ ID NO 19 <211> LENGTH: 23 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: primer_bind <222> LOCATION: (1)...(23) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: primer <400> SEQUENCE: 19 gaatgatggt cgcccttttg agt 23 <210> SEQ ID NO 20 <211> LENGTH: 169 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Glycine max <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT <222> LOCATION: (1)...(169) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Xaa = Any Amino Acid <400> SEQUENCE: 20 Asn Phe Leu Leu Pro Lys Xaa Xaa Gln Phe His Pro Gly Gly Leu Leu 1 5 10 15 Ser Asn Gly Leu Ile Ser His Leu Arg Val Leu Gly Asp Ser Ser Pro 20 25 30 Asp Glu Ala Leu Xaa Ser Glu Glu Glu Asn Leu Leu Ile Ile Asn Arg 35 40 45 Leu His Gln Val Leu Arg Pro Phe Val Leu Arg Arg Leu Lys His Lys 50 55 60 Val Glu Asn Glu Leu Pro Glu Lys Ile Glu Arg Leu Ile Arg Cys Glu 65 70 75 80 Ala Ser Ser Tyr Gln Lys Leu Leu Met Lys Arg Val Glu Glu Asn Leu 85 90 95 Gly Ser Ile Gly Asn Ser Lys Ala Arg Ser Val His Asn Ser Val Met 100 105 110 Glu Leu Arg Asn Ile Cys Asn His Pro Tyr Leu Ser Gln Leu His Ala 115 120 125 Glu Glu Val Asp Asn Phe Ile Pro Lys His Tyr Leu Pro Pro Ile Ile 130 135 140 Arg Leu Cys Gly Lys Leu Glu Met Leu Asp Arg Leu Leu Pro Lys Leu 145 150 155 160 Lys Ala Thr Asp His Arg Val Leu Phe 165 <210> SEQ ID NO 21 <211> LENGTH: 23 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: primer_bind <222> LOCATION: (1)...(23) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: primer <400> SEQUENCE: 21 aacccgatga tctgtcgcct tca 23 <210> SEQ ID NO 22 <211> LENGTH: 23 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: primer_bind <222> LOCATION: (1)...(23) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: primer <400> SEQUENCE: 22 tcatccagga ggacttctct caa 23 <210> SEQ ID NO 23 <211> LENGTH: 61 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Glycine max <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT <222> LOCATION: (1)...(126) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Xaa = Any Amino Acid <400> SEQUENCE: 23 Glu Met Pro Tyr Val Leu Val Phe Gln Ala Ile Thr Tyr Leu Thr Leu 1 5 10 15 Leu Lys His Leu His Asn Asp Ser Gly Pro His Leu Ile Val Cys Pro 20 25 30 Ala Ser Val Leu Glu Asn Trp Glu Arg Glu Leu Lys Arg Trp Cys Pro 35 40 45 Ser Phe Ser Val Leu Gln Tyr His Gly Ala Gly Arg Ala 50 55 60 <210> SEQ ID NO 24 <211> LENGTH: 23 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: primer_bind <222> LOCATION: (1)...(23) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: primer <400> SEQUENCE: 24 gccccatggt attgaagaac aga 23 <210> SEQ ID NO 25 <211> LENGTH: 25 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: primer_bind <222> LOCATION: (1)...(25) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: primer <400> SEQUENCE: 25 attttatttc atgtgtcacc cagcc 25 <210> SEQ ID NO 26 <211> LENGTH: 522 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Oryza sativa <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: CDS <222> LOCATION: (1)...(522) <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <222> LOCATION: (1)...(522) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: n = A,T,C or G <400> SEQUENCE: 26 gtt tct ggg agg aag gct cag tat tct aag aaa aac tca cgt aat gta 48 Val Ser Gly Arg Lys Ala Gln Tyr Ser Lys Lys Asn Ser Arg Asn Val 1 5 10 15 gat tca ctc cct ttg atg gag ggt gaa ggg cgt gct tta aaa gtt tat 96 Asp Ser Leu Pro Leu Met Glu Gly Glu Gly Arg Ala Leu Lys Val Tyr 20 25 30 gga ttc aat cac gtt caa cga aca caa ttc cta cag aca ctc atg agg 144 Gly Phe Asn His Val Gln Arg Thr Gln Phe Leu Gln Thr Leu Met Arg 35 40 45 tat ggt ttt cag aac tat gat tgg aaa gag tat ctt cct cgt ttg aag 192 Tyr Gly Phe Gln Asn Tyr Asp Trp Lys Glu Tyr Leu Pro Arg Leu Lys 50 55 60 ggg aaa agt gtt gag gaa att cag aga tat ggt gag ctt gtc atg gcc 240 Gly Lys Ser Val Glu Glu Ile Gln Arg Tyr Gly Glu Leu Val Met Ala 65 70 75 80 cat ctt gta gag gac aca aat gac tca cca acc tat gca gat ggt gtg 288 His Leu Val Glu Asp Thr Asn Asp Ser Pro Thr Tyr Ala Asp Gly Val 85 90 95 ccg aag aaa tgc gtg ctg atg aga cat tgg tca ggc tag cca aaa tat 336 Pro Lys Lys Cys Val Leu Met Arg His Trp Ser Gly * Pro Lys Tyr 100 105 110 cac ttg tgg agg aga agg tgg tgc atg gag caa gga aaa tta caa aac 384 His Leu Trp Arg Arg Arg Trp Cys Met Glu Gln Gly Lys Leu Gln Asn 115 120 125 tct tcc cca act act tga tgt atg aat tta ctg gct tat cag gtg gaa 432 Ser Ser Pro Thr Thr * Cys Met Asn Leu Leu Ala Tyr Gln Val Glu 130 135 140 gaa tat gga aag ggg aac atg atc tac tgt nac tga agc ata ata agc 480 Glu Tyr Gly Lys Gly Asn Met Ile Tyr Cys Xaa * Ser Ile Ile Ser 145 150 155 acg ggt tgc cag tgg cat aca tat cag atn cag aga tac ggg 522 Thr Gly Cys Gln Trp His Thr Tyr Gln Xaa Gln Arg Tyr Gly 160 165 170 <210> SEQ ID NO 27 <211> LENGTH: 171 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Oryza sativa <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT <222> LOCATION: (1)...(171) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Xaa = Any Amino Acid <400> SEQUENCE: 27 Val Ser Gly Arg Lys Ala Gln Tyr Ser Lys Lys Asn Ser Arg Asn Val 1 5 10 15 Asp Ser Leu Pro Leu Met Glu Gly Glu Gly Arg Ala Leu Lys Val Tyr 20 25 30 Gly Phe Asn His Val Gln Arg Thr Gln Phe Leu Gln Thr Leu Met Arg 35 40 45 Tyr Gly Phe Gln Asn Tyr Asp Trp Lys Glu Tyr Leu Pro Arg Leu Lys 50 55 60 Gly Lys Ser Val Glu Glu Ile Gln Arg Tyr Gly Glu Leu Val Met Ala 65 70 75 80 His Leu Val Glu Asp Thr Asn Asp Ser Pro Thr Tyr Ala Asp Gly Val 85 90 95 Pro Lys Lys Cys Val Leu Met Arg His Trp Ser Gly Pro Lys Tyr His 100 105 110 Leu Trp Arg Arg Arg Trp Cys Met Glu Gln Gly Lys Leu Gln Asn Ser 115 120 125 Ser Pro Thr Thr Cys Met Asn Leu Leu Ala Tyr Gln Val Glu Glu Tyr 130 135 140 Gly Lys Gly Asn Met Ile Tyr Cys Xaa Ser Ile Ile Ser Thr Gly Cys 145 150 155 160 Gln Trp His Thr Tyr Gln Xaa Gln Arg Tyr Gly 165 170 <210> SEQ ID NO 28 <211> LENGTH: 23 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: primer_bind <222> LOCATION: (1)...(23) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: primer <400> SEQUENCE: 28 gtttctggga ggaaggctca gta 23 <210> SEQ ID NO 29 <211> LENGTH: 23 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: primer_bind <222> LOCATION: (1)...(23) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: primer <400> SEQUENCE: 29 tatgtatgcc actggcaacc cgt 23 <210> SEQ ID NO 30 <211> LENGTH: 510 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: oryza sativa <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: CDS <222> LOCATION: (2)...(510) <400> SEQUENCE: 30 c tta cag gat ttc ggg gga ggt ggc tgc ggc tgt ttg gag cgg agg ggt 49 Leu Gln Asp Phe Gly Gly Gly Gly Cys Gly Cys Leu Glu Arg Arg Gly 1 5 10 15 tta ata gct aca gca tgt gac gtt gat act cta atg atg aag gag cgg 97 Leu Ile Ala Thr Ala Cys Asp Val Asp Thr Leu Met Met Lys Glu Arg 20 25 30 agc tct tta tgt gaa agt gcg gca gat gga agt tgg gtt ttg aaa tac 145 Ser Ser Leu Cys Glu Ser Ala Ala Asp Gly Ser Trp Val Leu Lys Tyr 35 40 45 aaa agg aaa cgg agc aag cta aca gtt agt cca tca agt gag cat gat 193 Lys Arg Lys Arg Ser Lys Leu Thr Val Ser Pro Ser Ser Glu His Asp 50 55 60 gct tcc tca cca ata ctg gat tct caa atg aac aat ggc tcc atc aaa 241 Ala Ser Ser Pro Ile Leu Asp Ser Gln Met Asn Asn Gly Ser Ile Lys 65 70 75 80 aag aag atc aaa cat gac act aac att tct cca tca acc aag aag ata 289 Lys Lys Ile Lys His Asp Thr Asn Ile Ser Pro Ser Thr Lys Lys Ile 85 90 95 aga gga cat gac ggg tac ttc tac gag tgt gta gaa tgt gat ctc ggt 337 Arg Gly His Asp Gly Tyr Phe Tyr Glu Cys Val Glu Cys Asp Leu Gly 100 105 110 ggc aat ttg ctg tgc tgt gat agc tgt cca cga aca tac cac ttg gaa 385 Gly Asn Leu Leu Cys Cys Asp Ser Cys Pro Arg Thr Tyr His Leu Glu 115 120 125 tgt ctt aat cct cct ctc aag cgt gca cca cct gga aat tgg caa tgc 433 Cys Leu Asn Pro Pro Leu Lys Arg Ala Pro Pro Gly Asn Trp Gln Cys 130 135 140 cca aga tgt cgt aca aaa aaa gtt agc ttg aag ctc tta aac aat gct 481 Pro Arg Cys Arg Thr Lys Lys Val Ser Leu Lys Leu Leu Asn Asn Ala 145 150 155 160 gat gct gac acc tcc taa acg tga aag aa 510 Asp Ala Asp Thr Ser * Thr * Lys 165 <210> SEQ ID NO 31 <211> LENGTH: 167 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: oryza sativa <400> SEQUENCE: 31 Leu Gln Asp Phe Gly Gly Gly Gly Cys Gly Cys Leu Glu Arg Arg Gly 1 5 10 15 Leu Ile Ala Thr Ala Cys Asp Val Asp Thr Leu Met Met Lys Glu Arg 20 25 30 Ser Ser Leu Cys Glu Ser Ala Ala Asp Gly Ser Trp Val Leu Lys Tyr 35 40 45 Lys Arg Lys Arg Ser Lys Leu Thr Val Ser Pro Ser Ser Glu His Asp 50 55 60 Ala Ser Ser Pro Ile Leu Asp Ser Gln Met Asn Asn Gly Ser Ile Lys 65 70 75 80 Lys Lys Ile Lys His Asp Thr Asn Ile Ser Pro Ser Thr Lys Lys Ile 85 90 95 Arg Gly His Asp Gly Tyr Phe Tyr Glu Cys Val Glu Cys Asp Leu Gly 100 105 110 Gly Asn Leu Leu Cys Cys Asp Ser Cys Pro Arg Thr Tyr His Leu Glu 115 120 125 Cys Leu Asn Pro Pro Leu Lys Arg Ala Pro Pro Gly Asn Trp Gln Cys 130 135 140 Pro Arg Cys Arg Thr Lys Lys Val Ser Leu Lys Leu Leu Asn Asn Ala 145 150 155 160 Asp Ala Asp Thr Ser Thr Lys 165 <210> SEQ ID NO 32 <211> LENGTH: 23 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: primer_bind <222> LOCATION: (1)...(23) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: primer <400> SEQUENCE: 32 cttacaggat ttcgggggag gtg 23 <210> SEQ ID NO 33 <211> LENGTH: 23 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: primer_bind <222> LOCATION: (1)...(23) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: primer <400> SEQUENCE: 33 ctttcacgtt taggaggtgt cag 23 <210> SEQ ID NO 34 <211> LENGTH: 667 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: triticum aestivum <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: CDS <222> LOCATION: (2)...(667) <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <222> LOCATION: (1)...(667) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: n = A,T,C or G <400> SEQUENCE: 34 g ttg act gga acc cca tta cag aac aac att ggt gaa atg tat aat ttg 49 Leu Thr Gly Thr Pro Leu Gln Asn Asn Ile Gly Glu Met Tyr Asn Leu 1 5 10 15 ttg aac ttc cta cag cct gct tct ttc cct tct cta gca tca ttt gag 97 Leu Asn Phe Leu Gln Pro Ala Ser Phe Pro Ser Leu Ala Ser Phe Glu 20 25 30 gag aag ttt aat gaa ctt gca aca gca gag aaa gtg gag gag ctg aag 145 Glu Lys Phe Asn Glu Leu Ala Thr Ala Glu Lys Val Glu Glu Leu Lys 35 40 45 aaa ctg gta gca cca cat atg ctt cga agg ctg aaa aaa gat gca atg 193 Lys Leu Val Ala Pro His Met Leu Arg Arg Leu Lys Lys Asp Ala Met 50 55 60 aaa aat atc ccc ccg aag aca gag cga atg gtg cct gtc gaa ctg aca 241 Lys Asn Ile Pro Pro Lys Thr Glu Arg Met Val Pro Val Glu Leu Thr 65 70 75 80 tca atc cag gct gaa tac tac cgt gct atg ctt aca aag aac tac caa 289 Ser Ile Gln Ala Glu Tyr Tyr Arg Ala Met Leu Thr Lys Asn Tyr Gln 85 90 95 gta ctg cgt aat acc gga aaa ggt ggt gct cat cag tca ttg ctc aat 337 Val Leu Arg Asn Thr Gly Lys Gly Gly Ala His Gln Ser Leu Leu Asn 100 105 110 ata gta atg cag ctt cgg aaa ttt gca acc atc cat atc tta tcc tgg 385 Ile Val Met Gln Leu Arg Lys Phe Ala Thr Ile His Ile Leu Ser Trp 115 120 125 gaa ctg aac ccg aat caa gtt cac cag att ttt gca tga aat gag aat 433 Glu Leu Asn Pro Asn Gln Val His Gln Ile Phe Ala * Asn Glu Asn 130 135 140 aaa ggc tca aca aat taa ctt tgt tgc att cta tgc tca aag tgt tac 481 Lys Gly Ser Thr Asn * Leu Cys Cys Ile Leu Cys Ser Lys Cys Tyr 145 150 155 aca gtg atg ggc atc gtg ttc taa ttt tcc aga tga cta aac tct tga 529 Thr Val Met Gly Ile Val Phe * Phe Ser Arg * Leu Asn Ser * 160 165 170 cat ccc gaa gat anc gac ccg gaa ttg gca taa aca ntn aaa gag naa 577 His Pro Glu Asp Xaa Asp Pro Glu Leu Ala * Thr Xaa Lys Glu Xaa 175 180 185 tgg tcg tgt cgt ggg tga cnc aag cac ata nct tca aca gaa ana cgt 625 Trp Ser Cys Arg Gly * Xaa Lys His Ile Xaa Ser Thr Glu Xaa Arg 190 195 200 ttg att tgt aca acg gca tgc ntg tat tga cna nac gta can 667 Leu Ile Cys Thr Thr Ala Cys Xaa Tyr * Xaa Xaa Val Xaa 205 210 <210> SEQ ID NO 35 <211> LENGTH: 214 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: triticum aestivum <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: VARIANT <222> LOCATION: (1)...(214) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Xaa = Any Amino Acid <400> SEQUENCE: 35 Leu Thr Gly Thr Pro Leu Gln Asn Asn Ile Gly Glu Met Tyr Asn Leu 1 5 10 15 Leu Asn Phe Leu Gln Pro Ala Ser Phe Pro Ser Leu Ala Ser Phe Glu 20 25 30 Glu Lys Phe Asn Glu Leu Ala Thr Ala Glu Lys Val Glu Glu Leu Lys 35 40 45 Lys Leu Val Ala Pro His Met Leu Arg Arg Leu Lys Lys Asp Ala Met 50 55 60 Lys Asn Ile Pro Pro Lys Thr Glu Arg Met Val Pro Val Glu Leu Thr 65 70 75 80 Ser Ile Gln Ala Glu Tyr Tyr Arg Ala Met Leu Thr Lys Asn Tyr Gln 85 90 95 Val Leu Arg Asn Thr Gly Lys Gly Gly Ala His Gln Ser Leu Leu Asn 100 105 110 Ile Val Met Gln Leu Arg Lys Phe Ala Thr Ile His Ile Leu Ser Trp 115 120 125 Glu Leu Asn Pro Asn Gln Val His Gln Ile Phe Ala Asn Glu Asn Lys 130 135 140 Gly Ser Thr Asn Leu Cys Cys Ile Leu Cys Ser Lys Cys Tyr Thr Val 145 150 155 160 Met Gly Ile Val Phe Phe Ser Arg Leu Asn Ser His Pro Glu Asp Xaa 165 170 175 Asp Pro Glu Leu Ala Thr Xaa Lys Glu Xaa Trp Ser Cys Arg Gly Xaa 180 185 190 Lys His Ile Xaa Ser Thr Glu Xaa Arg Leu Ile Cys Thr Thr Ala Cys 195 200 205 Xaa Tyr Xaa Xaa Val Xaa 210 <210> SEQ ID NO 36 <211> LENGTH: 23 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: primer_bind <222> LOCATION: (1)...(23) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: primer <400> SEQUENCE: 36 gttgactgga accccattac aga 23 <210> SEQ ID NO 37 <211> LENGTH: 23 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: primer_bind <222> LOCATION: (1)...(23) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: primer <400> SEQUENCE: 37 catgccgttg tacaaatcaa acg 23 <210> SEQ ID NO 38 <211> LENGTH: 941 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Zea mays <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: CDS <222> LOCATION: (48)...(941) <400> SEQUENCE: 38 gtcgacccac gcgtccgcag gattctggga agctccacac cttggat atg cta cta 56 Met Leu Leu 1 cga cgc ctt cga gct gaa ggt cat cgt gtg ctt ctt ttt gct cag atg 104 Arg Arg Leu Arg Ala Glu Gly His Arg Val Leu Leu Phe Ala Gln Met 5 10 15 act aaa atg ttg gac att ctt gag gat tac atg aat ttc aga aaa ttc 152 Thr Lys Met Leu Asp Ile Leu Glu Asp Tyr Met Asn Phe Arg Lys Phe 20 25 30 35 aag tat ttc aga ctt gat ggg tct tca gcc atc tca gac cgc cgt gac 200 Lys Tyr Phe Arg Leu Asp Gly Ser Ser Ala Ile Ser Asp Arg Arg Asp 40 45 50 atg gtc cga gat ttt cag aac agg aat gac ata ttt gtt ttc ttg tta 248 Met Val Arg Asp Phe Gln Asn Arg Asn Asp Ile Phe Val Phe Leu Leu 55 60 65 agc aca aga gct ggg ggg ctt ggt att aat ttg act gct gct gat act 296 Ser Thr Arg Ala Gly Gly Leu Gly Ile Asn Leu Thr Ala Ala Asp Thr 70 75 80 gtt att ttt tat gaa att gac tgg aat cca aca caa gac cag cag gca 344 Val Ile Phe Tyr Glu Ile Asp Trp Asn Pro Thr Gln Asp Gln Gln Ala 85 90 95 atg gat aga aca cac aga ctt ggt caa aca aag gag gta act gtg tac 392 Met Asp Arg Thr His Arg Leu Gly Gln Thr Lys Glu Val Thr Val Tyr 100 105 110 115 agg ctt ata tgc aaa gat acc att gag gag aaa ata ttg caa aga gca 440 Arg Leu Ile Cys Lys Asp Thr Ile Glu Glu Lys Ile Leu Gln Arg Ala 120 125 130 aag cag aaa aat gca gtg caa gag tta gtt atg aag ggg aaa cat gtc 488 Lys Gln Lys Asn Ala Val Gln Glu Leu Val Met Lys Gly Lys His Val 135 140 145 caa gac gat cat ttg atg aga caa gag gat gtt gtt tca tta ctt att 536 Gln Asp Asp His Leu Met Arg Gln Glu Asp Val Val Ser Leu Leu Ile 150 155 160 gat gac aca cag att gca cac aag ttg aaa gaa ata tcc atg cag gcg 584 Asp Asp Thr Gln Ile Ala His Lys Leu Lys Glu Ile Ser Met Gln Ala 165 170 175 aag gat cga caa aag agg aga cga gcg aag ggc atc aag gtt gac aaa 632 Lys Asp Arg Gln Lys Arg Arg Arg Ala Lys Gly Ile Lys Val Asp Lys 180 185 190 195 gaa gga gat ttg acg ctc gaa gac ttg gat gat gct act gca gaa gct 680 Glu Gly Asp Leu Thr Leu Glu Asp Leu Asp Asp Ala Thr Ala Glu Ala 200 205 210 gta gat caa gac aaa acg acc agc aaa aag aaa aag agc tcc cac aag 728 Val Asp Gln Asp Lys Thr Thr Ser Lys Lys Lys Lys Ser Ser His Lys 215 220 225 aaa cat acg aat act cat gat aat gac aat ata gac aag aat gga gag 776 Lys His Thr Asn Thr His Asp Asn Asp Asn Ile Asp Lys Asn Gly Glu 230 235 240 gcc gat gtg gga gat cat ccg ggg agt agt aac aca gaa aac gaa cag 824 Ala Asp Val Gly Asp His Pro Gly Ser Ser Asn Thr Glu Asn Glu Gln 245 250 255 atg ccc gaa tca aga cct aaa aga tca aaa agg ctg atg aag agc att 872 Met Pro Glu Ser Arg Pro Lys Arg Ser Lys Arg Leu Met Lys Ser Ile 260 265 270 275 act gat gac aag gaa cta gct gct gct gcg gat cat gag aaa ccg gta 920 Thr Asp Asp Lys Glu Leu Ala Ala Ala Ala Asp His Glu Lys Pro Val 280 285 290 aat gaa gcg gaa aat cac tga 941 Asn Glu Ala Glu Asn His * 295 <210> SEQ ID NO 39 <211> LENGTH: 514 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Glycine max <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: CDS <222> LOCATION: (6)...(514) <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <222> LOCATION: (1)...(514) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: n = A,T,C or G <400> SEQUENCE: 39 ccnta aat ttc ttg tta ccc aaa cnt nat caa ttt cat cca gga gga ctt 50 Asn Phe Leu Leu Pro Lys Xaa Xaa Gln Phe His Pro Gly Gly Leu 1 5 10 15 ctc tca aat ggt tta ata agc cat ttg aga gtg ctt gga gat agc tcg 98 Leu Ser Asn Gly Leu Ile Ser His Leu Arg Val Leu Gly Asp Ser Ser 20 25 30 cct gat gaa gct tta ntg tcc gag gag gag aat ctc ttg att ata aat 146 Pro Asp Glu Ala Leu Xaa Ser Glu Glu Glu Asn Leu Leu Ile Ile Asn 35 40 45 cgt ctg cac caa gtt ttg aga cca ttt gta ctt agg agg ctg aaa cac 194 Arg Leu His Gln Val Leu Arg Pro Phe Val Leu Arg Arg Leu Lys His 50 55 60 aag gtt gaa aat gag ttg cct gag aag att gag aga cta ata aga tgt 242 Lys Val Glu Asn Glu Leu Pro Glu Lys Ile Glu Arg Leu Ile Arg Cys 65 70 75 gag gcc tca tca tat caa aaa ctt ttg atg aag agg gtg gaa gaa aat 290 Glu Ala Ser Ser Tyr Gln Lys Leu Leu Met Lys Arg Val Glu Glu Asn 80 85 90 95 ctt ggt tct att ggc aat tca aag gct cga tca gta cac aac tct gtc 338 Leu Gly Ser Ile Gly Asn Ser Lys Ala Arg Ser Val His Asn Ser Val 100 105 110 atg gag ctt cgt aat ata tgc aat cat cca tat ctc agt cag ctt cat 386 Met Glu Leu Arg Asn Ile Cys Asn His Pro Tyr Leu Ser Gln Leu His 115 120 125 gca gag gag gtg gat aac ttc ata cct aaa cat tat ctg cca cca att 434 Ala Glu Glu Val Asp Asn Phe Ile Pro Lys His Tyr Leu Pro Pro Ile 130 135 140 att aga ctt tgt ggg aag ctt gag atg ttg gac cgt tta ttg cca aaa 482 Ile Arg Leu Cys Gly Lys Leu Glu Met Leu Asp Arg Leu Leu Pro Lys 145 150 155 ttg aag gcg aca gat cat cgg gtt ctt ttc tt 514 Leu Lys Ala Thr Asp His Arg Val Leu Phe 160 165 <210> SEQ ID NO 40 <211> LENGTH: 403 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Glycine max <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: CDS <222> LOCATION: (221)...(403) <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <222> LOCATION: (1)...(403) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: n = A,T,C or G <400> SEQUENCE: 40 tgaatatntn cttgntttta atttatgcga ntaaggattt gtgcattngg agattagtgt 60 cnatgaatca agtgattgnt attttatttc atgtgtcacc cagccatatt ggcagatgaa 120 atgggtcttg gcaaaacagt tcaggtacgt attctgtttt ttattatttt aatatgtttc 180 ntaatttgtt tgtnttccta atcctttact tttcaagtaa gaa atg cca tat gtt 235 Glu Met Pro Tyr Val 1 5 ctt gtc ttc cag gcc atc aca tat tta act ttg ctg aaa cac ttg cac 283 Leu Val Phe Gln Ala Ile Thr Tyr Leu Thr Leu Leu Lys His Leu His 10 15 20 aat gat tct ggt cca cat ctt ata gta tgt cct gct tct gtt ctg gaa 331 Asn Asp Ser Gly Pro His Leu Ile Val Cys Pro Ala Ser Val Leu Glu 25 30 35 aac tgg gaa agg gaa tta aaa agg tgg tgt cca tcc ttt tct gtt ctt 379 Asn Trp Glu Arg Glu Leu Lys Arg Trp Cys Pro Ser Phe Ser Val Leu 40 45 50 caa tac cat ggg gcc gga cgt gca 403 Gln Tyr His Gly Ala Gly Arg Ala 55 60 <210> SEQ ID NO 41 <211> LENGTH: 12561 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Zea mays <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <222> LOCATION: (1)...(12561) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Zmpk1 genomic sequence <221> NAME/KEY: misc_feature <222> LOCATION: (1)...(12561) <223> OTHER INFORMATION: n = A,T,C or G <400> SEQUENCE: 41 atactgtaat catctatgac aggtgaaaaa tctctctgtt tagacaaaac agttaacata 60 atggattcgc ttcaatttct cacctatgta tgtacagtga ttggaaccca catgcggatt 120 tgcaagctat ggcaagagct catcgcttag gacagactag taaggtattt taccttacac 180 tttatattgt ataaaaaaac agattttcaa taagttttgt ggtgatttta taattttcat 240 ctgtttttct tttaggtgat gatatacagg cttgttagcc gaggtacaat tgaggagcga 300 atgatgcagc ttacaaaaaa gaagatttta ttggagcact tagttgttgg tcgactcacc 360 aaagctaata atgtcaatca ggtatgttga ctacttttta atggtgaatt ttgtaaacca 420 tcaacttagg ttgatctttt atggcctaag ctatttatga attcatttat ggattgaggg 480 ttgagtagtt acatgttact ccctccattt tttatatttg tggtgtttta gttcaaaaat 540 aaactaacgg gtgacaaata ttcgagaacg gaggtagtac tagtaccttc tgtctgggat 600 gacatgaaat gaatgtagca tctgttagta tcatgtccat ttctttgtgt tacattttac 660 aaggcttaaa accttacaca tattgccgga gttggtgact atttagtctt atctgtaaat 720 ttagttgttt ctcttgatgt caatagcaat ttatggttgt atgagatttc gtgggtttgt 780 tagcatgtgt gccatatagg tttagctccg ctgatgtgtt atgcacttat aattcagacc 840 cattttggag ctgtgatgtg atacacaatg ctagttgtta aggccccatt tgtttgtttc 900 atattcataa tctatgtgca tgcattagtc cagatcaggc tgggtgatct ggtgggcatt 960 ggtacatgca tggctgaata agagtttgat gaccaagggt aaggcacccc acatctactc 1020 ttggctggcc aactgggtag tatctgctag ttatcatgga aataaggttg gcaacctctt 1080 taaggttgtc ttcaagaact aaacataaaa agaatgccat gaagatggaa cccaggatct 1140 caggacctat ttgtcgtaag atttctgaat ctttgctgga gctggcaacg ggctggttgc 1200 tggtctcatc cctacattat agttttgtgt atgtttcttc cagactttca acacttctca 1260 acttctagaa catgtaaccg gcatgtacaa acagaacaat ttagaacagt tcaaagtgca 1320 tgtccttact gcgatgggac cacacacttc tggtctcttt aggacttgat tgatttaatg 1380 cagattaata attaacccaa tttgctcttc tgacctgcta gtgagccctt cattggtttt 1440 taagtactaa ataataaata tgtgtctttg cctattttag gaggagttgg atgatattat 1500 acgctatgga tcaaaggagc tttttgaaga cgagaatgat gaatctcgcc aaattcatta 1560 tgacgaagct gcaattgaga ggtaaacacc taggcccttt tttgatctcc taagataaga 1620 ttaatgagaa cgacgtagaa aaatgagtgt gatccaagca cagattctag aatccaacta 1680 tctagctaaa ccttgctata catagattct cgctatgcaa aggccataat cactatgaaa 1740 atgagatcca aacacccctt gtttttattt atctagaatg tagattctca aaagaagggc 1800 aagcttggtg cattggtgag atctttctca ttcagtcatc aagtcgtggg ttcaaagcag 1860 cctctcgaca tttgtgggag cctctagcac tgggtctacc cctttttatt aacaatctag 1920 attctacatc atcatgtaga atcactatga taatgagatc taaacatggc cttaagcccc 1980 taacttcacc ttgggaagtt atttcgtgca ttaagcatgc ctttttggtg tgaagttgtt 2040 taaagtatta ccagatttat gtaacaattt acaaatgtat tggaatctgg agaccatttt 2100 gatcatggat gcaaatctag aattctagag ataattagta tgtatgccct accaagtagg 2160 atacgatgag agattgagag tgctaagaga cttttatggg aagacttaga tggtatgatt 2220 agagttatgc ctattagtga gaagcttttc ataggagatc tcaacggaca tgtaggtaca 2280 acaagtgtag gtttcaaggc ggttcatgga gggtttgagg aagagaatcc cattttgtga 2340 catgtagtag tggcaaacgc tctagtcaga tttgttaagt aactgtgtat tccttgtaat 2400 gggatcttgc gtaatgagca taggccctat aactctatta taaatacagc accgaaccct 2460 gatgttaagc taggtttagc ctcctctctc ccacctagcc aatatggtat caagctaggt 2520 ttagcctcct ctctcccacc cagccgtcgc cgccaccgct acagtagttg ccgctgtcgg 2580 cattcttcct cccctccccc ttccctggtg tcggcgaccc tccttcgacc tccttccatc 2640 ggcgcccctt tcccctcgtc cagccgtcgc cgcagtgtct ggacgcgagg cccttcctca 2700 tccgtgcgct tgggggccgc tgggcttttc ctccccccgc ccgccagcag tcggccttgt 2760 cctcgccacc gtcggagttg ccacatgaga ggcattgaaa gggtgaaagg aggtaatgcg 2820 gtgggccctg atgttatccc aatcgaggca tggagatgtc ttgggggaca tagctataat 2880 aggctaacta agttgttcag tctatcttcc ggtcaaacaa gatgcttgac aagtggagaa 2940 gtatattggt accaatcgac aaaaataagg aagatattca aagttgtagc aattaatagg 3000 gaataaagtt gatgagccat actacgaagc tatgggagag agttatcgag catcgagagg 3060 aaaaacgagg acctgtatga accaatttgg tttcatgcaa gctcaaccat ggaagccatt 3120 ttcttaataa gataagtact ttgtgactaa cataaaattt tatgtggtag gctttggaca 3180 aacataaaat tccaacgaag tactttgtga ctaattaagg acatgtacaa taatggtgtg 3240 actagtcact agtgtttgaa caagtcatgt gaacacaaat gacttactga ttagagtagg 3300 gctacatcag gggtcaacct tgagctctta cctttttgcc ttggtgatgg atgaggtcac 3360 aaaggacata caaatggata tcccttggtt tatgccttgc ggacgatata gcgttatttg 3420 atgaaagtcg gatagagtta tttgatggaa gtcggatagg agtaaatagg aaactatagc 3480 tgtggcggga gactctagag tccaaaggtt ttagactcaa tagaactaaa actgaataca 3540 tgagatgtgt cttcggcact actacacata aggaaaacga tgttagtttg aaaggtcaag 3600 tagtgcctac gaaacgataa tatacatgat agattagggg tgacaccaat tgaagaaaag 3660 cttttccaac accgattgat atggtttgaa catgtctaac agagacctct agagacacca 3720 atgtgtagtg gaattctaag tcatgatagt aatgagaaga gacaagagag gcagaggaag 3780 gccaaagttg acatggaaat gggtagtaga agagatttca aaggatgaaa tataccaaag 3840 atttagcctt aaataggagc gaatgggaaa caactcatcc atgtgcctga atcttgattt 3900 gtggctttat taggtttcaa ctctagccta gcccaacttg attgggacta ataggctttg 3960 ttgttgtttt tgcaaacctg gaaattttca tgaccatggc aataaatagc acagtttata 4020 ctcaatatca ccctatacgt aagaacaaca tgagctgcat aattgatttt gtttgtttaa 4080 ttccattttc ttatgaaatt ccttcttttc tcctattaca gtaattcata gtatggaatc 4140 tgtcttcatg cagattatgc acaacactaa tccttgttgt tatggcccca atttttatct 4200 tctttgttat gacttaaaac tgtagtgctc tatgttagag gagacaacgt aatatatctg 4260 actggactca caggttgtta gaccgtgatc aagttgacgg tgatgaatct gtggaagatg 4320 aagaagaaga tggattctta aaaggattca aggtattggg gtcttctttc aattattaca 4380 agcataatgc ttgaggagct tcttcatttt aattatcctc ttgatattta ctgtggttta 4440 cattgtttag tctttttctt gtttattatg tgcacatgta tttgttaaag tgcacataat 4500 ctctatttgc acaagtacac ttgtgaggca gtgaggtctg actctgttat ttgtatgttt 4560 gcgagtatgc atgtaatcaa gccactattg atatttgata ggattaacct atgcatcaga 4620 ttttgttgat gaatgagata ttttatgtat gcattgcatg ctttctcatt tgaattatct 4680 cgttagtttt acctgcccat ctaagatata caattgcgta gtgctgagta aaacactatg 4740 caaataaaca atgtttcttg ttctctcatt catctgtagg cctattcttc caattcaaac 4800 atgctatgtt actcataggg caatactatt tgtgtttcat ttattgttga aaatgctgca 4860 tactacaact gcctcatgac tcatttttca ttctaagtgt ttggcacatt ctagcaaaca 4920 aaagagtccc tttatttaac ccaaagcaaa acgattctcg cttcttgtat tactctatgc 4980 taggttgcaa actttgaata tatcgatgag gcaaaggctc aggcagaaaa agaggaggca 5040 cggagaaagg ctgcagctga ggctgaaaat tctgaaagaa actactggga tgaactattg 5100 aaggatagat atgatgtaca gaaagttgaa gaacatactg ctatgggaaa agggaaaaga 5160 agccgcaaac aggtttaatt tctaaccatt tccattgtta accttgtgac ttgtgcccct 5220 tttcatatca ttttcccttg ttttgtgatc tgcattcatt gctttgcggt tggcaataga 5280 tgtaatttca tatttgttcc ttcccaaaaa gaaaatcata gttgttgcct tgttggcaac 5340 ttacagtatt tcacttgtag aatatctttt aaactcgatt taagcactgt aattgtaatt 5400 aaattttagg aaatcatgct tatacaccaa ctaggataac tgatgcaacc aatcactgtt 5460 gagcgttgac aatatgcatc aaagtcatat aactaatctt atcatgaaga taagcatgaa 5520 attaaggaag aacgtagcca ttatttgtta tatctttctt ggtttaacgg cgcagtgcca 5580 ttagtgcatt acttcttagc cagacatgac atctgctgct cagtgtagtg taatcttctt 5640 ttgcgaaggt acttctcttt aaactagttt tgcatgacga tgaagttgag tatagacatt 5700 ttgtgttaga tccttcttgc tgttactgta cagtatatat attagttcat tattcgtccc 5760 accccacccc aaaccaatca ttgactatag cttaatgtac tatgtctgtt tggtaatgta 5820 ttgtattgtt tttatttggt cgatttaaat tttagagtga ccatatacat tttcagtaag 5880 agaaaagact gatgaacctt gtttcttttc tgcgtcatgt gcagatggct gccgctgatg 5940 aagatgacat tcatgattta agttccgaag atgaggatta ctcattggag gatgacattt 6000 cagataatga cacaagtttg caaggaaata tttctgggaa gaggggccaa tattctaaga 6060 gaaaatcacg taagagagca atgtaaatac atcgcactat ggactattgt tacatgatga 6120 atattctgta cttatatact ttgcaaatac attgtcatta ggtaatgttg attctattcc 6180 attgatggag ggcgaaggac gtaccttgag agttcttgga ttcaaccatg ctcaacgagc 6240 aatgttccta cagacactca ataggttagt tactgatatg cctcttgaac ctgtctggtc 6300 agcgagtgag taccttgaac ctaaagttta tgtgcagatg ttgagatgct attacattgc 6360 gtgataaagc aggcacacag aaatttctgt ttcatttgta tctcttggcc atgtgtacat 6420 ttttaatcat ggaatccttt tttttttaca attgttggtt agtgtttaca tttttatcac 6480 tcgtttctaa tagttgtgtg ctctgacctg tatctttgtc accaaattgt aatttctggt 6540 ccaattttaa gcataaaata tttgcactga ggtcattggc tattccctag ttgtactatc 6600 agaccaacat gaacgtgacc ccatgcaaca ttgtagattc ggttttcaga attatgactg 6660 gaaagagtat cttcctcgtc ttaaaggaaa aagtgtcgag gaaatccaga ggtatgtgaa 6720 atgtgctctc catgttttat gaccccaatt attttgagtt gtagaccaaa tagtgaagaa 6780 tctggggcat agtttcgtaa gttagatgga tatgatgcac aacattttac attttattga 6840 ttttctctta ggcgaagggc gggcctggtg cagcggtaga gcctaccgtc tgtaaccgga 6900 aggtcttggg ttcgagcccc aacctctgca tattatgcgg gtaaggcttg gcgcttaaag 6960 atacccttcc ccagaccccg cacagtgcga gaagcctatg gcactgggtt cgccctttta 7020 ttgattttct cttaggcccc gtttgtttcc cttcatttta aggaattgga atctaactga 7080 tggagtaagc tatttttttt ataatgtaat attccataac tttccaaagt ttatgtataa 7140 gccaatctca aattcatggg gtgagagatg gaaattgatt ctatagattt acatgctact 7200 tttcaaattt acaacttata gcacactctt ctacttgctt ctctatatga taaatgtagt 7260 gtataactat ctctcttata tgatttagga taatatacaa atacattaca tagataaata 7320 tattaactta atagttttat cttaaattat aattattata atggaattca attccaacga 7380 aacaaacggg gccttaggta tatagacaat gaattcaagt ttgtgcttcg acgaagaatt 7440 gatgagatgg gtaactgggc attcctggct tctgatagta cacatattta ggcaaagtcg 7500 actgctggta gtagtgaaag tgtacacaca aatatgcttg gttggactct tgctttgttt 7560 attatgttgc aaatttatat aactattgca cccttgccaa caaggaaaga tgtggcatca 7620 tcacatatga agccaaatta agcaggcagt caccaaagtc agactatatc tgcagtgcta 7680 gactgttagt agcaaattga gccaacagtc accaaagcta gactacctct gaagtgcgaa 7740 tagcaggcgg ccataaccta accctattaa gttgtatgca ccaaccagtt caacccaaaa 7800 gcttaagctg atggagagag gtggcaattc acttgtattc taacattctc cctcacatcg 7860 aggctctctt agaccgtctc cagcagttca cccatacggt tatcaaaaca ctggttttca 7920 ctgtagacta tactgtttgc atatggggat gtggatgagt aagctgctgg agatagcctt 7980 aggtcttaga cgtggaataa gaacggacaa caattatttt atttaattgc gctaaccagg 8040 attcgaactc aagatatctg gctttgatat catattaagt cgcatatacc agccagttca 8100 acccaaaaac ttaagcttat agagaggtgg acaattcact tgtattctaa caaaccccag 8160 tgctagtagc aaaatgagcc aacagttacc aaagcttgca gctgaagggc tagtttggca 8220 gcgctttgtg gacagagcgc tgcgccgctg ccaaacactg ttgctccatc tcggaagtgc 8280 tcgccctatg ctccagtcga tttgcattat gggtggggag cggaaaaaat ccgctctgtc 8340 tgcagcatgc tcctctctcc acttcccgct ctgctgcctg ctcccctctc cacccacgcc 8400 gctatccacc gcatctctgc ctgcacagcc cctctctggc tcattaacgg tggcgtggac 8460 cacgagcact gggcagatcc gtggtggtga taaagagggc aggagggagg ccagaccctc 8520 cgtggcgagg agtgctgcac ttggaggatg tgggccctgg cgagctggag ccgaagctga 8580 tggagaagca ctaccaaaca ctggtatcgg caggtgggga gcaacctgag cgggagccta 8640 ggggagctgg agccgctggg agcttcgtga cagtagtacc aaacatgatc taagtaaacg 8700 tcatatgaac atggaacagg catcaagatg ctgtccttca tatagctcta tcattacttt 8760 ttccttgtag agcccataac cacaagaatg ttgtacaccc acttatgtat agggtaggct 8820 tgtataacac ccatttaagt caagtacacc tcttatattc ccaccaaaca acccagtttt 8880 aggcaattat ttttgtggag atcctcaaag tgattcatag caataacctt tgtgcaattt 8940 attttcgtat atataatatg ttcttgcaga tatgctgaac ttgtcatggc acatcttgtt 9000 gaagaaatta atgattctga ctatttttca ggtaattgag cttagtaatg gctactatca 9060 tttttacgca tccaattctt atcctccata tgcatgaatg cagatggcgt tccaaaggaa 9120 atgatgcgtg ttgatgatgt actagtcagg atagcaaaca tatcccttat tgaggagaag 9180 gtgcatgtgg ctttcatttg ttatttgcat cttaacatga cttagaactc aaaagaaact 9240 tatgagcatc ctgatgatgt tcaatacaaa catgattgtg ctgtattctt tcttgcgtaa 9300 agtgcaagga ttgtcgagag ctgaagttta gtatttaaac ttgcacctta tagaattcgg 9360 ttgattacaa taccttgata tgattctgct atcaatgagg caacctttgt gtactgtatt 9420 ctttcttact tttgtattgt ggttccagat ggctgccaca ggaccaggaa aaattacaaa 9480 catttttcct aattacttgc tctatgagtt ccaaggctta tctggtggaa gaatatggaa 9540 agcggagcat gatctactgt tactgagagg catactgaag tacgaaacta cgaatatttt 9600 ctttgttaca atcagctcta caaaattacc cctccatgaa actagcagtg gctggaacag 9660 ttctggcaag agtagcctta aaaagtcgat gtttgtgtca gcagcagtgg cgttgcaatg 9720 acagaactga attgtttggc tcacttgttg gttgatggat tattagtttt ttagtatagc 9780 agcagtggct tgcatcttgg cccgagtgga cctattgtgc tcagaagtta gggttaccct 9840 aacgggtatc ttttcgcata gcttgatagc ttccaggtgg tgcctgtcca cccagtgctc 9900 tagtgatttt ggagacatcg ggttcaggaa ctgtttaatt aaggcaacaa attcaactta 9960 tcttaacgtt gagtaagcaa actgaagtat cacatgcaaa ccagatgagc tccacatttg 10020 atttgatatc taacttaaat tatttatttt gattctgttt aatactttta caattgtaat 10080 catgtggaac agcttaatga aaaatgtagg ttttcaaggg gtacacttga cctgcacagc 10140 gatctccttt gcttttatag actttgtgtt ttttccttgt ggataatgca ttttttacca 10200 actattgttt cacactgtaa caaaactata tttaaggtat taacacaatg catttgtttt 10260 gccttcacca ggcatggata tgcaaggtgg cagtatatat cagatgacag agagaatggg 10320 ctttttgagg ctgcacgacg agagcttcat ctcccttcgg ttaatgaaat aattggtgct 10380 cagttgaacg aggcaaatgt tagcatgtgc tcactatgtc ccttcctcca aattttgaag 10440 tgttgcattt cttatttctt ccattccttt tctaggggaa tttggaaggt gcacaggaag 10500 gccaagcgaa cacaacaagc atgtcgcatt acaaggagac ccagagaaag atagttgagt 10560 tcttgagaaa gagatatcat cttatggaga gagccttgaa tatggaatat gctgtggtac 10620 ggtactaggc ttttttccct gaacaggcat gcactcaaag ctcacatggg agtgcacagt 10680 agctgttcat gtagtatctt gcagcatttt ttaaagcgta cctttttctc ttgcagataa 10740 agaaaaaaat tcctgttcct gatgatatta ctgaacaagg tgttccagca ggacatgctc 10800 cttttattcc agatatcagt gaactgttgc gggaattgcc caatcttgag ccaatttgta 10860 agtgatctct tattccctat atatatattc cttctctcca cctatgcagg aagagacagt 10920 cacatagtgg catagaacat gctggggcag atgctcacaa tttttaatca tgtgtcatgc 10980 atgactcttg tcttactaaa ctctctctaa agatgtgttg ttgttgacat atactcttga 11040 gtcttgaggt ttgttcattt gtttgttttg ataactggga tcctcgtttc cagctaccaa 11100 tgaattggtt tctgagggca cagctggtca gttacaagtt ccccatctct acaataaggt 11160 gtgtaagcgc aatggcacac gttttcatgg gtcatgggcg aacgcatcat ttgttttcct 11220 cgagttaaca ttataaccag actgtgtacg tatgctctgc agatgtgtgg agtgcttgaa 11280 gagagtggtg cttatgcgct cagttccttc tttggagaca agtccgcatc ttctagtttg 11340 gccaatagcc ttcgacagtt tgaaactgtg tgcgggaatg tcgtcgaggc cttgcgacca 11400 caccaaaatg gtactggcag tgccatcaaa gaggaattgg tagatgcagc caccaaagca 11460 gcagcagcag cagctcctca acaagattca ggccatgatg caccgcatgg gcagtcttcg 11520 acagccaagg cggacatgga aatcgatggt tgatttgtag gttccagagt ggtaagaaag 11580 ggaatccccc tctaatcatt atgtatactg tggtcagaat gtgcgctata tattgtaaca 11640 tcaaagaaag cacctccagg cctgagggtg ttactgctaa tgcgtttggt ttacttgttg 11700 tccttgtaat atgcatacac atttagaact catgcagcca ttttgtgtgc tcgaatncgg 11760 tggatcgctg ccctgttgtc ttgtactgtg tttaagggcc tgtttggnat acgaatggtt 11820 aattataaga cggggctaaa gataagtacg gattaactna tagttggcta gcttgttggg 11880 taagaaatta caaaatagtt tgcaaaacaa aacatgttgg tgcaagcgtg gtcccaaaat 11940 gttaaaaacg aagaaacgat ccatgcatat cttgtaagta tttacattgg ctcaattcca 12000 agcaaccttt gcacttacat tatacaaact agttcaatta tgcatttcta tacttgcttt 12060 ggtttgtgtt ggcatcaatc accaaaaagg gggagattga aagggaatta ggcttacacc 12120 tatagtccct aattaatttt ggtggttgaa ttgcccaaca caaataattg gactaactaa 12180 tttgcccaag tgtatagaat atacaggtgt aaaaggttca cactcagcca ataaaaagat 12240 caagttttgg attcaacaaa ggagcaaaga gacaaccgaa ggcacctctg gtctgggggc 12300 accggactgt ccggtgcacc agaggactca aactcaaact tgccaccttc gggaattttc 12360 aaaggcactc cgctataatt caccggactg tccggtgtac accggacagt gtccggtgct 12420 ccaaggaaga gcggcctctg gaactcgcca gcctcgggaa aacgcagcgg ctgctccgct 12480 ataattcacc ggactgtccg gtgtacaccg gactgtccgg tgaaccagca gagcaatggc 12540 tacttcacgc caacggtcac c 12561 

What is claimed is:
 1. An isolated nucleic acid expressing a protein having CHD activity comprising a member selected from the group consisting of: (a) a polynucleotide which encodes a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2, 6, 10,14, 18, 22, 26, 30, 34 or 38; (b) a polynucleotide amplified from a plant nucleic acid library using the primers of SEQ ID NOS: 3 and 4; 7 and 8; 11 and 12; 15 and 16; 19 and 20; 23 and 24; 27 and 28; 31 and 32; 35 and 36; or 39 and 40 or primers determined by using Vector nti Suite, InforMax Version 5; (c) a polynucleotide comprising at least 60 contiguous bases of SEQ ID NO: 1,5,9, 13, 17,21,25,29,33, or 37; (d) a polynucleotide having at least 65% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 1, 5, 9,13,17, 21, 25, 29, 33, or 37, wherein the % sequence identity is based on the entire sequence of the above sequences and is determined by GAP 10 analysis using default parameters; (e) a polynucleotide comprising at least 75 nucleotides in length which hybridizes under high stringency conditions to a polynucleotide having the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, 25, 29, 33, or 37; (f) a polynucleotide coding for a plant CHD protein other than from Arabidopsis; (g) a polynucleotide having the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, 5, 9,13,17, 21, 25, 29, 33, or 37; and (h) a polynucleotide complementary to a polynucleotide of (a) through (g).
 2. The isolated nucleic acid of claim 1, wherein the polynucleotide is from a monocot or dicot.
 3. A vector comprising at least one nucleic acid of claim
 1. 4. An expression cassette comprising at least one nucleic acid of claim 1 operably linked to a promoter, wherein the nucleic acid is in sense or antisense orientation.
 5. The expression cassette of claim 4, wherein the nucleic acid is operably linked in antisense orientation to the promoter.
 6. A host cell containing at least one expression cassette of claim
 4. 7. The host cell of claim 6 that is a plant cell.
 8. A transgenic plant comprising at least one expression cassette of claim
 4. 9. The transgenic plant of claim 8, wherein the plant is corn, soybean, sorghum, wheat, rice, alfalfa, sunflower, canola, cotton, or turf grass.
 10. A seed from the transgenic plant of claim
 8. 11. The seed from the transgenic plant of claim
 9. 12. An isolated protein having CHD activity comprising a member selected from the group consisting of: (a) a polypeptide comprising at least 20 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 2, 6, 10, 14, 18, 22, 26, 30, 34, or 38; (b) a polypeptide comprising at least 65% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 2, 6, 10, 14, 18, 22, 26, 30, 34, or 38, wherein the % sequence identity is based on the entire sequence of the above sequences and is determined by GAP 10 analysis using default parameters; (c) a polypeptide encoded by a nucleic acid of claim 1; (d) a polypeptide having the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2, 6, 10,14, 18,22,26,30,34, or 38; (e) a plaint polypeptide having CHD activity, wherein the plant is other than Arabidopsis;
 13. An isolated ribonucleic acid sequence encoding a protein of claim
 12. 14. A method for modulating CHD activity in a host cell, comprising: (a) transforming a host cell with at least one expression cassette of claim 4 and (b) growing the transformed host cell under conditions sufficient to modulate CHD activity in the host cell.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the host cell is a plant cell.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the plant cell is from a monocot or a dicot.
 17. A plant produced by the method of claim
 14. 18. A method for transiently modulating the level of CHD activity in host cells comprising introducing at least one CHD nucleic acid of claim 1 to produce a transformed cell and growing the transformed host cell under conditions sufficient to express the at least one CHD nucleic acid in an amount sufficient to modulate CHD activity in the host cell.
 19. The method of claim 18 wherein the host cell is a plant cell.
 20. A method for transiently modulating the level of CHD activity in host cells comprising introducing at least one polypeptide of claim 13 to produce a transformed cell and growing the transformed host cell under conditions sufficient to modulate CHD activity in the host cell.
 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the host cell is a plant cell.
 22. A method for enhancing tissue culture response in a host cell comprising introducing into the host cell at least one CHD polypeptide or at least one CHD polynucleotide to produce a transformed host cell and growing the host cell.
 23. The method of claim 22 wherein the host cell is a plant cell.
 24. The method of claim 22 wherein the at least one CHD polynucleotide is operably linked to a promoter driving expression in the plant cell.
 25. The method of claim 22, wherein the plant cell is from a monocot or a dicot.
 26. The method of claim 25 wherein the plant cell is a recalcitrant cell.
 27. The method of claim 26 wherein the plant cell is a maize inbred plant cell.
 28. A method for inducing somatic embryogenesis in a host cell comprising introducing into a responsive host cell at least one CHD polypeptide or at least one CHD polynucleotide to produce a transformed host cell and growing the transformed host cell to produce a transformed embryo, wherein the host cell is other than an Arabidopsis cell.
 29. The method of claim 28 wherein the host cell is a plant cell.
 30. The method of claim 29 wherein the at least one polynucleotide is operably linked to a promoter driving expression in the plant cell.
 31. The method of claim 29 further comprising growing the transformed embryo under plant growing conditions to produce a regenerated plant.
 32. The method of claim 29, wherein the plant cell is from a monocot or a dicot.
 33. The method of claim 32 wherein the plant cell is from corn, soybean, sorghum, wheat, rice, alfalfa, sunflower, canola, cotton, or turf grass.
 34. A plant produced by the method of claim
 29. 35. A method for positive selection of a transformed cell comprising introducing into a responsive cell at least one CHD polynucleotide or at least one CHD polypeptide to produce a transformed cell, growing the transformed cell to produce a transformed embryo, and selecting for the transformed embryo.
 36. The method of claim 35, wherein the responsive cell is a plant cell.
 37. The method of claim 36, wherein the plant cell is from a monocot or a dicot.
 38. The method of claim 36, wherein the at least one polynucleotide is operably linked to a promoter capable of driving expression in a plant cell.
 39. The method of claim 35 further comprising introducing a gene of interest into the transformed cell.
 40. The method of claim 35 further comprising altering media components to favor the growth of transformed cells.
 41. The method of claim 40 wherein the media components are altered to reduce somatic embryogenesis in non-transformed cells.
 42. The method of claim 35 wherein the at least one CHD polynucleotide is excised.
 43. The method of claim 42 wherein the at least one polynucleotide is flanked by FRT sequences to allow FLP mediated excision of the polynucleotide.
 44. A method for inducing apomixis in a plant cell comprising introducing into a responsive plant cell at least one CHD polypeptide or at least one CHD polynucleotide to produce a transformed plant cell and growing the transformed plant cell under conditions sufficient to produce a transformed somatic embryo.
 45. The method of claim 44 wherein the at least one CHD polynucleotide is operably linked to a promoter capable of driving expression in the plant cell
 46. The method of claim 45 wherein the promoter is an inducible promoter.
 47. The method of claim 44, wherein the plant cell is from a monocot or a dicot.
 48. The method of claim 44 further comprising suppressing the expression of an FIE polycomb polynucleotide in the plant cell using sense or antisense methods.
 49. The method of claim 44 further comprising growing the embryo under plant growing conditions to produce a regenerated plant.
 50. The method of claim 45 wherein the at least one CHD polynucleotide is expressed in integument or nucellus tissue.
 51. A plant produced by the method of claim
 44. 52. The plant of claim 51, wherein the plant is male sterile.
 53. A method for increasing transformation efficiency comprising introducing at least one CHD polypeptide or at least one CHD polynucleotide and a gene of interest into a responsive host cell to produce a transformed cell and growing the transformed cell under cell growing conditions.
 54. The method of claim 53, wherein the host cell is from a plant.
 55. The method of claim 53 wherein the transformation is conducted in medium that retards growth of somatic embryo growth in non-transformed plants.
 56. The method of claim 55 wherein transformation is conducted with reduced levels of auxin or no auxin.
 57. The method of claim 53, wherein the at least one CHD polynucleotide is operably linked to a promoter driving expression in the plant cell
 58. The method of claim 53, wherein the plant cell is from a monocot or a dicot.
 59. The method of claim 58, wherein the plant cell is a recalcitrant cell.
 60. The method of claim 59, wherein the plant cell is a maize inbred cell.
 61. A method for increasing recovery of regenerated plants comprising introducing into a responsive plant cell at least one CHD polypeptide or at least one CHD polynucleotide to produce a transformed plant cell and growing the plant cell under conditions sufficient to produce a regenerated plant.
 62. The method of claim 61, wherein the at least one CHD polynucleotide is operably linked to a promoter driving expression in the plant cell
 63. The method of claim 61 further comprising introducing a gene of interest.
 64. The method of claim 61, wherein the plant cell is a recalcitrant cell.
 65. The method of claim 64, wherein the plant cell is an inbred plant cell.
 66. A method for decreasing gene silencing comprising stably transforming at least one CHD polynucleotide or CHD polypeptide and a gene of interest into a host cell to produce a transformed host cell and growing the transformed host cell.
 67. The method of claim 66, wherein the host cell is a plant cell.
 68. The method of claim 67, wherein the plant cell is from a monocot or a dicot.
 69. The method of claim 66, wherein the at least one CHD polynucleotide is operably linked to a promoter driving expression in the plant cell
 70. The method of claim 66, wherein the plant cell is a recalcitrant cell.
 71. The method of claim 70, wherein the plant cell is an inbred plant cell.
 72. A method for increasing oil production in a host cell comprising stably transforming a host cell with a CHD polynucleotide operably linked to a promoter to produce a transformed cell and growing the transformed cell to produce elevated levels of oil in the transformed cell compared to a corresponding non-transformed cell.
 73. The method of claim 72 wherein the host cell is a plant cell.
 74. The method of claim 73, wherein the plant cell is from a monocot or a dicot.
 75. The method of claim 74, wherein the plant cell is a recalcitrant plant cell.
 76. The method of claim 75, wherein the plant cell is an inbred maize plant cell. 